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."

It's Firefighter Friday - Meet Stephen Sullivan

Good Morning to all of those ready for.... Firefighter Friday! Let me introduce you to Stephen Sullivan! Stephen is a Driver/Pump Operator. He started at LFD as a volunteer in 2010. In 2012 he became a paid firefighter and his promotion to DPO was recently in June! On to the questions:

1. *What made you want to be a firefighter?
-I wanted to do something that put me in a position where I could help and make an impact in people's lives on a regular basis. I also wanted to do something that constantly challenged me and was exciting and always changing.

2. *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
-Without exception it is the people I work with. You can not find a person in our department that does not have a genuinely good heart and a vast knowledge of their field. I came to Leander for the profession, I stay with Leander because of the people. 

3. What’s the funniest thing that has happened at your job?
-I may or may not have fallen out of my chair while we were watching a scary movie. 

4. What’s your favorite food?
-Sushi

5. What are your hobbies?
-Leander Fire Combat Challenge team, Rock climbing, Hanging out with my wife and our dogs, Working out, Working on our home.

6. What’s something about you citizens might find unusual or interesting?
-Before I became a firefighter, I considered a career as a professional bowler.

7. If you could invite 3 famous people to dinner, who would they be?
-Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Chris Pratt

8. If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why?
-Disney World, it is absolutely entertaining for all ages

9. Who is your role model and why?
-My dad is a huge source of inspiration for me as well as an example of who I strive to be.

10. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
-Yogurt, steaks, asparagus, avocados, chicken, fruit

Thanks Stephen! And good luck with your upcoming Combat Challenge Team competitions!

Oh, The Places You'll Go...

If anyone saw a group of firefighters at Robin Bledsoe Park, have no fear, LFD was just training! Sometimes, having a world class fire fighting organization is about having instructors and staff that can think out of the box to prepare firefighters for any situation in new environments. LFD Firefighters attend weekly continuing education classes with their shifts. For the last 2 days LFD changed things up by practicing maneuvers with their breathing apparatus on and moving in confined spaces at the park. Who knew that crawling on the playscape in full bunker gear would be such a great simulation? One thing I should add is the firefighters also had wax paper in their masks, so they were virtually blind, just as they might be in a smoky room. Later the firefighters practiced crawling blinded in full gear in straight lines. Well done LFD!

It's Firefighter Friday - Meet John McNabb

It's Firefighter Friday! (Just a reminder that we do this each Friday for you to learn about your LFD Firefighters and Volunteers. You might discover something interesting or that they have a sense of humor when filling out the odd questions! Enjoy and feel free to give them a "like.")

1. * What’s your name and position?
John McNabb, Fire Fighter

2. *How long have you been with LFD and in what capacity?
Volunteer - 3 years Paid - 4 months

3. *What made you want to be a firefighter?
Being part of a team environment and helping those in need

4. *What’s the best thing about being a firefighter at LFD?
Helping people in a community that my family and I will be a part of for a very long time.

5. What’s your favorite food?
perogies

6. If you could recommend one place for people to go on vacation where would it be and why?
The mother land a.k.a. Canada - it snows.

7. Who is your role model and why?
Scott Karr because he's like Mcgyver. (FYI Scott is another firefighter.)

8. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role?
Steve Buscemi

9. Where would you go in a Time Machine?
High school state championship game. "If coach had a put me in in the 4th quarter we would have won state."

10. Pepsi or Coke?
Crystal Pepsi

Thanks McNabb!