What is Bob Brooks' background?

Bob Brooks was born and raised in North Adams, Massachusetts, by a single mother who bartended to keep food on the table. His family moved to Pennsylvania after his home burned down when he was 18 years old, and he entered the workforce immediately. Before becoming a firefighter, he worked as a dishwasher, short-order cook, bartender, landscaper, warehouse worker, pizza delivery driver, and Teamster driving a beer truck.

He joined the Bethlehem Fire Department in 2005, spent 20 years on the job, and held nearly every position in IAFF Local 735 — from roster duty chairman and trustee to vice president, secretary-treasurer, and president. In 2021, he was elected president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. He also owns Brooks Lawn Care, a small family snow removal and lawn care business he has run since 2013, and has coached youth and varsity baseball at Nazareth Area High School for over two decades. He lives in Nazareth with his wife, Jen, and their sons.