Spirit of Giving

In the spirit of the season we wanted to share this story of giving with you. Members of the Leander Professional Firefighters Association #4298 from the Leander Fire Department issued a $1,000 check today to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. MDA expressed their gratitude of the Firefighter Association's support and future partnership.

Firefighter Friday is here! - Assistant Chief Heater

It's Firefighter Friday! This afternoon we are introducing you to our Assistant Chief of Operations, Stuart Heater. Chief Heater manages things that people normally think about when you think of a fire department: Firefighters, Fire Trucks, and Fire Stations.

1. *How long have you been with LFD and in what capacity?
2.5 years as volunteer and 9 years as career

2. *What made you want to be a firefighter?
A friend in high school was volunteering at the local fire department when a big apartment fire occurred right next to the school. After he was talking about the fire I went out the next week and started looking into volunteering.

3. *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
The atmosphere. It’s the best group of people I have worked with.

4. What’s your favorite food?
Mexican Food

5. What are your hobbies?
Saltwater fish keeping, wood working, and occasionally I get to play golf.

6. What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting?
My family was among the first settlers of Hudson Bend area of the river valley before the construction of Mansfield Dam flooded our homestead.

7. If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?
I only need two- my deployment ready pack and golf clubs

8. If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why?
Bahamas. The beaches, blue water and the lack of good cellular coverage.

9. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Sweat Tea

10. Pepsi or Coke?
Pepsi only if it has salted peanuts poured in.

Firefighter Friday - Ryan Blake

Good Morning, Leander!  Yay, It's Firefighter Friday!  And Good Morning to Ryan Blake, our Firefighter of the week.  He's been with LFD for about 2 years now as a paid Firefighter.  You first met him back in July when he told us about his time in Fire School.  One extra
fun fact about our department - We actually have 4 Firefighters that go by "Ryan" either first, middle or last name.  Now, for some answers from this Ryan!

1.    *What made you want to be a firefighter?
My father was a member of the ERT (emergency response team) for the manufacturing company that he worked for when I was a young kid. They handled firefighting & hazmat duties on site. This sparked my interest and coupled with my desire to help the people in my community is what led me to choose a career in the fire service.

2.    *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
The awesome people that I get to work around, who all have the same passion for the job that I do.

3.    What’s the funniest thing that has happened at your job?
Impromptu eating contest

4.    What’s your favorite food?
Pizza

5.    What are your hobbies?
Mountain biking, hiking, camping

6.    What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting?
I have never traveled outside of the United States.

7. If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?
Kashi Go Lean Crunch, it's healthy.

8. If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?
I Saw God Today by George Strait.

9. If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why?
Ouray, Colorado.  Great hiking, 4x4 trails, rock climbing and hot springs.

10.  If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role?
Mike Rowe

11. If you could invite 3 famous people to dinner, who would they be?
Jay Leno. Tina Fey. Jimmy Fallon.

Bikes for Blue Santa

Leander Police Department Blue Santa donation collections are in full swing.  Leander fire Department has a Blue Santa Barrel in every station to collect donations.  City of Leander employees were challenged to donate bikes this year.  Leander Fire Department teamed up with the Building Permits and Inspections departments, Leander Professional Firefighter Association, Leander Volunteer Fire Department, and our individual members and were able to donate 10 bikes with helmets.  And of course our Firefighters wanted to personally deliver those bikes to the Leander Police Department.  If they missed out on that 2 minute trip from LFD to LPD they were going to miss reliving their youth as you can see!  For more info on Blue Santa go to:  http://www.leandertx.gov/police/page/blue-santa-program  

Shirts for Sale!

Did you know LFD now has T-shirts for sale? We do! Check out the link for price and pictures. We even have kid sizes! One of our firefighter's wives made this design happen and we are so thrilled to be able to offer this shirt to the public. Proceeds from the sale go into Outreach and Education programs for children, elderly, and someone you may know.

http://www.leandertx.gov/fire/page/lfd-support-t-shirts-are-here-0

Wall Breach Video of Training

The guys were having a little fun during training timing themselves to see how fast they could get through.  They though a minute was a good goal and did it in 36 seconds.

Firefighter Friday - Ryan DeBacker

We often hear that Firefighters become Firefighters because they want to help people. Honestly, they never know how they are going to help, but it's true a lot of them just have a helpful nature and that is true of today's Firefighter ofthe week for Firefighter Friday - Ryan DeBacker! Ryan is our Inspector/Fire Investigator at LFD. Just today, while out on inspections he found a dog and helped find the owner and get the dog back home. We have a picture of Ryan and is new doggy friend below. Now on to some questions for Ryan!

1. *How long have you been with LFD and in what capacity? (Volunteer or Paid? Include both amount of times if you were both.)
I started as a volunteer in 2008. I was hired full time in 2012.

2. *What made you want to be a firefighter?
I was tired of feeling empty with my previous jobs and being a consumer. I wanted to do something that was a benefit to society and that I would be proud of.

3. *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
Leander is where my family has been and currently is. The schools and businesses I inspect and keep safe are the schools my children will go to and where my family shops. I had the opportunity to be on the first arriving engine on a medical emergency for my mother. I am also in a position that allows me to help build a safe and growing city through my plan reviews. How blessed and rare to be a part of something so special.

4. What’s the funniest thing that has happened at your job?
Firefighter stories can't leave the stations. My family reads these posts. Crews are the equivalent of frat brothers that are all 12 years of age.

5. What are your hobbies?
I am quite tame and boring. I traded the motorcycle in for kids. On crazy days you can find me out on a treacherous family walk in the neighborhood.

6. What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting?
I am an avid opera fan. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to fly to New York overnight and watch Placido Domingo perform in 'The First Emperor' at the Met.

7. If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?
My yacht, a box of cigars, and my deed to prove I owned the island.

8. If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?
I sang Kelly Clarkson's 'A Moment Like This' at a karaoke bar to my wife when we first started dating. This would seem a reasonable choice to repeat.

9. If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why?
Bar Harbor, Maine during the summer. The weather is amazing. The topography is breathtaking. You get to see whales and seals! No fire ants, no cedar, no poisonous spiders and snakes, no 100 degree days.

10. Who is your role model and why?
Bonus round! My wife. She is amazingly strong. She is absolutely the glue in this family. She continually makes me strive to become a better person every day by reminding me there are plenty younger models with more hair to trade me in for. She was an inspiration for me to get back in college which currently has me sitting 18 hours from a dual degree. She's pretty hot too.

11. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role?
Friends and strangers routinely discuss my mustache. The logical choice would be Sam Elliott.

Fire Combat Challenge Team Recognized

Our Leander Fire Combat Challenge Team was recognized tonight at the city council meeting. We are so proud of their performance this year and the spotlight they bring to our department and city. Good job guys!