Showing a bit of Appreciation for Local Firefighters

Not only was yesterday, May 4, Star Wars Day, it was also Firefighter Appreciation Day. Sometimes, it may be easy to take for granted all that the San Angelo and other area fire departments do for this community. However, as local law enforcement do, they put their lives on the line daily to protect this community. 

In San Angelo, there are eight different fire stations. According to the San Angelo Fire Department’s website, “The Fire Department's mission is to provide the community the highest level of life safety and property conservation through the extension of training, fire prevention, emergency medical services, fire suppression and emergency management.”

Overall, there are around 145 firefighters in operations who work 24-hour shifts. Along with the fire fighters, there are 12 people in administrative positions within the fire department.

Each day, there is a minimum of 39 personnel on duty to man the equipment needed for a call. A call could be for EMS, fire scenes, rescue calls or an accident involving vehicles.

Frank Barnett, Administrative Battalion Chief for SAFD, said, “A lot of the time, we’ll go days without a significant event, so our guys spend a lot of time training and doing down time, which is chores and tasks around the stations. So usually, we don’t get a lot of attention unless there is a big fire or some big disaster, and that doesn’t happen very often. You can go a while and believe that no one even notices that we’re here. “

However, many people would disagree. These firefighters are definitely appreciated. Police Chief candidates Tim Vasquez, Frank Carter, Jeff Davis and Mike Hernandez all expressed their gratitude and respect for San Angelo's firefighters.

Carter said, “I think it is very important that there is an appreciation day for the firefighters. They are part of the backbone of public safety. The firefighters put their lives on the line every single day, not only for our community, but also worldwide. They preserve the life and property of others. The fire department has my full support; I think the world of them, and I think our community does as well.”

Hernandez and Davis both mentioned they have dear friends who are firemen. Davis said, “I’ve got some of the best friends [who] are firefighters. We've build long-term relations. There is one firefighter that I've known for 30 years; he has worked in San Angelo for 27 years, and we still talk daily.”

Hernandez said, “I have a lot of friends in the fire department, and I like to think of us as being on the same team. Even though we have to different jobs, we are both first responders.”

Along with friendship, police and firemen have built respect and admiration for one another.

Vasquez said, “I have always had a great amount of respect for them and all the work that they do. It’s one of those things where we complement each other, and that makes me admire them for their ability to come together as a group and participate in such things like the Fill the Boot campaign.”

Davis added, “You build a good relationship with them. They are the first guys you want to call in a bind; that's for sure. San Angelo has some of the greatest firefighters I have ever seen, as well as the best training I have ever seen.”

Being first responders to an accident, it is crucial to have a bond formed out of respect for one another since firefighters risk their lives for their community.   

Barnett stated, “We [the firemen] get to know the police officers on a first name basis. I think we work really well hand and hand. We know what they are about, and they know what we are about and how we work together. We absolutely feel like it’s a strong relationship.”

Working hand and hand with firemen, Hernandez said, “As a supervisor, the way I handle it is, if there is a fire and the fire department is in charge, whatever they need they will get.”

Yesterday was not the only day to appreciate firemen for all that they do. There is also a day in November for public safety, and no one can forget September 11, and the firefighters who gave their lives that day.

Barnett said, “A couple days a year, people tend to turn out to bring out cookies and cakes or cards by the fire station, and it is always nice to see that because we don’t necessarily see high profile events on a regular basis.”

Barnett has worked almost a year and a half in an administration position. He has spent most of his career working 24-hour shifts. He said, “I miss those guys dearly, and I look forward to the day I can join them again. There is nothing like working a 24-hour shift; it is truly a second family, and I always wish them to be safe and careful out on their own.”

At the end of the day, firefighters work hard to protect and serve the citizens of their community.

Vasquez said, “I would say I am definitely an advocate of them. They risk their lives every day, just like we do.”

Davis noted, “The firefighters are all about taking care of people and doing their job. My hat goes off to them; they really are awesome heroes.”