Wildland Refresher Course

Our Firefighters participated in a Wildland Refresher Course this week. Lt Bailey gives the group a scenario and each team member has the opportunity to lead the group through the possible situation. The leaders are to answer questions, give direction, give encouragement, give tips and point out safety concerns. Afterwards they talk over how it went just like they might in a real wildland fire. All part of the regular training at LFD. You might notice the gear is a little different. For Wildland fires, firefighters wear this and not their typical bunker gear.

Bluegrass Festival

Our Associates and Volunteer Firefighters are teaching 10 minute CPR at the Bluegrass Festival this weekend. We also have a prize wheel!  You can win tickets to our upcoming Fall Fun Festival!

It's Firefighter Friday and Today We Have an Associate! - Gina Petty

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     Today we want to introduce you to one of our Volunteer Associates, Gina Petty. One of the special things about Gina is she is a full-time working mom and also the wife of         Firefighter Petty that you met last week.  Gina chooses to volunteer with us to support her community, her fire department and her husband.  She, along with all of our Associates, is a driving force behind our upcoming Fall Fun Festival.  We couldn't do it without her!  Thank you Gina!  In case you didn't know Associates support LFD by planning and working Fall Fest and other events including birthday parties!  They also provide important Rehab services to our firefighters during emergencies and training.  If you ever wanted to get involved in your community, LFD can give you that opportunity. Now for a few questions for Gina:  

      What’s your favorite food?  TACOS

      What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting? I AM A PARALEGAL / LEGAL ASSISTANT AND WORK IN INTERNATIONAL & DOMESTIC ASSET PROTECTION

     

      If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring? MY PILLOW, A WATER FILTER, EYEGLASSES

      If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why? LUCKY CHARMS – HOPING TO FIND THE POT OF GOLD!!!!!!!!!! 

      If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why? I HAVEN’T TRAVELED MUCH, BUT DOMESTICALLY, OREGON. BVI IS NICE TOO.

     What would I find in your refrigerator right now? BASICS

      Pepsi or Coke?  COKE

If you could invite 3 famous people to dinner, who would they be?  AL PACINO, KENNY CHESNEY, abraham lincoln

Birthdays?

Yup, we set times aside for parties!  Check out our website for rules and dates, but we'd love to help you out. We provide the location if you let us share a little about us as well as teach your kids some safety tips. 

Happy birthday Lucas! Hope you had a good time. 

LFD at VFW

We visited the VFW for their Health and Safety  Fair today!

Firefighter Friday - Meet Eric Petty

Happy Firefighter Friday!  And good morning to our Firefighter of the week  - Eric Petty.  Eric has been with LFD for 8 years, his first 2 years were as a volunteer.  Feel free to give Eric a shout out.  :-) Now for some questions:

1.  *What made you want to be a firefighter?
For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated with the fire service. I love the challenges it brings. I like helping, meeting and working with new people. I love the comradery, and family aspect that comes along with it.

2. *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
The comradery, and second family that has been built.

3. What are your hobbies?
Soccer, Hunting, anything outdoors

4. What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting?
I have a degree in psychology and before I became a firefighter I helped run an upscale hunting and fishing store.

5. If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?
My Family, a lot of food and a lot of building materials.

6. If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?
Cocoa Pebbles, Because they make milk into chocolate milk.

7. Who is your role model and why?
Both of my grandfathers, my dad, my brother, my uncles. They are all great men I have learned great life lessons from.

8. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
A lot of kids snacks.

9. Pepsi or Coke?
I don’t drink sodas.

10. If you could invite 3 famous people to dinner, who would they be?
David Beckham, Johnny Cash, Sigmund Freud

It's Firefighter Friday - Today we have an Associate! Meet Melissa MacLaurin!

Melissa MacLaurin is one of our volunteer Associates.  In case you don't know, an Associate is a volunteer in the department that does various things to support LFD.  They may provide Rehab to firefighters during emergencies or training, or they may help with some of our many outreach events like Fall Fest or birthday parties at the station.  Associates also participate in various training through the year.  If you'd like to be a volunteer in the department and don't want to be a Firefighter, this is the option for you!  Melissa has been an Associate for one year.  She found out about the program by participating in Firefighter for a Day.  (That's happening November 15th!)  Melissa says from that experience she was hooked and wanted to help out her local firefighters and community

Now on to Melissa's questions and answers:

*    What’s the best thing about being an Associate at LFD?  The best thing about being an associate member is learning what our firefighters do and how they are trained as well as being able to help them when they need it so they can continue to protect our community effectively.

     

     What’s the funniest thing that has happened at your job?  The associates were recently given the opportunity to learn to drive the LFD Brush Fire Truck. While we all made it through unharmed (as did the truck) but it was a pretty entertaining morning.

     What are your hobbies? I like to make cards and scrapbook, go hiking and volunteer in the community

         What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting? I have not only gone for a ride in the Good Year blimp, but I was also given the opportunity to drive it!

         If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why? Lucky Charms because I would have access to a  pot of gold

         If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why? Any of the National Parks in the US, especially Yosemite, any in Utah and the Grand Canyon. They are so beautiful and it is nice to go spend some time in nature where you can hear yourself think.

          Who is your role model and why? Both of my parents are my role models. They are the kind of people who will stop to help anyone they see needing some help, even if it is just someone struggling to lift something into the car. I try to be as good of a person as they both are.

     Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role? Kerri Russell

     Where would you go in a Time Machine? I would go back to CA in the 1920s.

     If you could invite 3 famous people to dinner, who would they be? Ernest Hemingway, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston

     Thanks Melissa for giving LFD some of your extra time as an Associate!

Thanks for Your Support HEB

Leander HEB has made a wonderful tradition of cooking our firefighters breakfast and cleaning up our station on September 11th. So a BIG shout out and THANK YOU to HEB! They also sent the firefighters back to their regular stations with extra groceries! This year we wanted to thank HEB by sharing some information about something we are passionate about - learning CPR! LFD gave HEB staff members a 10 minute "Hands-Only" CPR class and a short fire extinguisher class. If you ever have the opportunity to take CPR - Do it! Check out the link to watch a video about Hands-Only CPR. 
Hands Only CPR

It's Firefighter Friday - Meet Will Taylor

It's Firefighter Friday! This is Will Taylor. Will is a Driver/Pump Operator. He began volunteering in 2006, was hired as a full time firefighter in 2008 and promoted to driver in 2012. And now on to some questions...

1. *What made you want to be a firefighter?
- I wanted to help people in need and to give back to the community

2. *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
- The best part of working for LFD is the group of people I get to work with each time I come to work

3. What’s the funniest thing that has happened at your job?
- everyday is a new comedic adventure...

4. What’s your favorite food?
- Chicken wings 

5. If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?
- Fiber One because I like helping people

6. If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?
- Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby Keith.

7. If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why?
- Divine Lake Park - Leander, TX... Because it's divine

8. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
- cold food and drinks

9. Pepsi or Coke?
- Coke

10. If you could invite 3 famous people to dinner, who would they be?
- Hakeem Olajuwon, Johnny Cash (if he were alive), Dwayne ""The Rock" Johnson

Thanks Will for sharing some random information and congrats on being Firefighter of the week!

Swim Ability Training

Williamson County Technical Rescue Group did some swimming today at the Robin Bledsoe Pool! Leander Fire Department, Cedar Park Fire Department and Williamson County EMS participate in monthly training together. This month improving swim abilities for swift water rescue was on the schedule.

Station Tours Rock!

One of the ways LFD stays connected with residents is by opening up the stations for tours. We sometimes have Scouts or small school groups touring and last week we had a pre-school play group! Our firefighters show the kids where they eat and sleep and show them all the cool tools on the truck. We also have a Firefighter dress in full gear so children can learn early on not to be scared. Our Firefighters know how important it is to have a positive relationship with children in a non-emergency situation, so they can more easily help if there really is an emergency. Thanks for coming moms and kids! We hope you enjoyed your visit to Station 2! If your group wants a tour you can go to our website and fill out the form under "Fire Station Tours."