Joke of the Day with Firefighter Chad Pollard

Emergency services work is no laughing matter. But for Henry County, Georgia firefighter/EMT Chad Pollard, it's the downtime between calls where he finds time to crack a joke or two.

In August 2025, Pollard posted a video of himself telling a joke in the station house. He did not get any laughter in the moment, but he has received plenty of it online. That video kicked off Pollard’s “Joke of the Day,” a series that has steadily grown his following ever since.

"I started Joke of the Day because me and a coworker were messing with our lieutenant," Pollard said. "When we did it, he was annoyed — he didn't even laugh. So we just kept doing it."

"Once it went viral, a lot of people messaged me saying it was making their day," Pollard said. "I've run into people in person who ask for a picture and tell me how they use my jokes at work, how it spreads happiness. It's almost like mission accomplished — I'm out here doing what I love, and it's just fun. I love people."

That instinct runs deeper than punchlines, he says. "Something I learned early in life is to be kind to everyone, because you never know what someone is going through. A simple conversation could brighten somebody's day — and could keep someone alive. That's really it."

Pollard, a father of five, traces both his career and his sense of humor to his own dad — a 31-year firefighter and, by Pollard's account, a career cut-up. "My dad told me that when he was younger, he did the same thing," Pollard said. "I guess it's just a thing at the fire station — everybody tells dad jokes."

Everybody tells them. Nobody tells them quite like Pollard. Joke of the Day has landed him local TV coverage and made him a bit of a hometown celebrity. But even with all his popularity, it took a while for news of his fame to reach those closest to him.

"What's funny is my older kids didn't know about the jokes until their teachers asked if they were related to me," Pollard said. "Their teachers had seen it on TV and in the news."

Now they've claimed a piece of it. "My kids think it's cool," he said. "They FaceTime me with their friends and ask, 'Can you tell my friend a joke?'"

Off camera, Pollard is just as loyal to his gear as he is to a good punchline. He wears HAIX Airpower XR2s on medical calls and HAIX Fire Hunter Pros on fire calls.

"My HAIX boots are sturdy," he said. "They last forever compared to other boots I've had before — those wore out like bad tires. Since I started firefighting, I've always wanted HAIX boots, because they look good too."