WHAT: Benefit supper/dance for firefighter Mike Warren

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 12; supper 4 p.m.; dance 7 p.m.

WHERE: Nichols Expo Center, Weld Street, Wilton

WILTON — After years of helping to fight fires, Michael Warren is in the midst of another kind of fight, one for his life.

Diagnosed with colorectal cancer in September, Warren begins a new and aggressive form of chemotherapy on Friday, he said. He’ll carry around a new type of chemotherapy machine, about the size of a large fanny pack, 24-hours/seven days a week for at least five weeks. The machine will administer chemotherapy continually rather than having regular doses, he said.

“We took our vows and I’m married to it (the machine),” he said in jest.

After the initial shock of “where do we go from here,” he said, it’s humor that has kept him going. The colorectal cancer he’s fighting is one leading causes of death in the United States, he added.

“You can sit there and let it beat you up or use a sense of humor and personality to keep going,” he said.

Warren, 36, expects to also undergo radiation treatment. Surgery earlier this fall didn’t take care of it, he said.

The treatment will keep him out of work until at least April. At Northeast Emergency Apparatus in Auburn, he’s a “jack of all trades” repairing all makes and models of fire equipment and preparing new truck deliveries, he said.

Outside of work, he’s been a firefighter for more than 21 years. Most of those years have been spent in Wilton, but within the past year he joined Chesterville Fire Department while still living in Wilton, he said.

“It was nothing against Wilton. They’re a great bunch of guys as is the small department in Chesterville. I was looking for and needed a change,” he said.

As a teenager, Warren served as a Hot Shot in the Wilton department after the family moved there when he was 7.

His grandfather and father were members of Farmington’s department, he said.

He likes the challenge of fighting fires and helping people. It’s always something new although a lot of work and training is required, he said. He’s a driver and pump operator.

“I’ve prided myself for being the one helping people. I’ve always thought ‘help everyone else first then take care of self later,'” he said.

Now he finds himself in unfamiliar territory.

Warren and his wife have two children, ages 6 and 10. Two incomes are now one, and there’s gas and travel expenses to go for treatment.

Family and friends are organizing a benefit supper and dance for the family Dec. 12 at the Nichols Expo Center on Weld Street. A spaghetti supper begins at 4 p.m. and a dance starts at 7 p.m.

Donations are $8 for adults and $5 for ages 6 to 12; under age 6 are free. The cost includes the meal and dance or people can just attend either one.

Friends have also set up a Mike Warren Family Fund Account at Key Bank on Main Street for anyone who would like to make a donation.

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Firefighter Mike Warren