[00:00:02]
[AFD Breakfast on Fire Awards Ceremony]
WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? YES, I WEBEX MEETING NOW? NO.TRYING TO PLAY TO SEE IF WE CAN SEND ANYBODY SHOULD BE HERE THAT NIGHT.
WELL, GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS THIS MORNING FROM OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BARNETT, OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR KURT WATSON, AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT SIMPLY BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH HERE, HERE WITH US TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE EXCELLENT WORKS THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDER DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS GEORGIE BAKER AND I HAVE THE HONOR AND THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FIRE CHIEF.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ATTENDING ONE OF OUR ANNUAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION CEREMONY, I WANNA GIVE YOU A SPECIAL WELCOME AS WELL.
THIS MORNING WE TAKE THE TIME TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT I REMEMBER DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SERVE NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN, BUT THE SURROUNDING AREAS AS WELL.
TODAY, THE DEPARTMENT GIVE BACK TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF AUSTIN FIRE THAT HEROICALLY WORK TOWARDS THE MISSION OF OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WE DO NOT DO IT.
THE WORK ALONE, WHAT WE DO IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT OF OUR CITY LEADERSHIP.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
AND, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JOHN FOREMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED PLEASE? HERE.
IT IS THROUGH THE DEDICATION EFFORT OF ALL CITY STAFF THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE TIMES OF NEED.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR
[00:05:01]
THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC STATES COMMISSION FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT AND MANY OTHER EVENTS THAT THEY DO FOR US, AND TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR.SO LET ME INVITE ASHLEY WOODS, ASHLEY UP HERE SO SHE CAN PLEASE SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS WITH US.
GET, GET ASHLEY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SORRY IT TOOK A SECOND FOR MY LITTLE FIVE FOOT LEGS TO GET UP HERE, BUT WE MADE IT.
UH, BEFORE I EVEN GET INTO MY REMARKS, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO KRISTEN WADE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS, BUT SOMEWHERE IN HERE.
KRISTEN, IF YOU'RE HERE, IF YOU'LL WAVE, SHE MIGHT BE OUT, RUNNING AROUND.
BUT, UM, SHE HAS WORKED SO HARD BEHIND THE SCENES OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO MAKE THIS EVENT WHAT IT IS.
AND SHE'S JUST SUCH A GREAT CHAMPION FOR THIS DEPARTMENT AND HAS MADE IT TO WHERE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT CATCH THE VISION THAT SHE HAS AND THE PASSION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AND APPRECIATION THAT WE NEED TO SHOW FOR YOU GUYS.
SO, KRISTEN, WHEREVER YOU ARE, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME IN THIS BUILDING, I RECOGNIZE YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU CHIEF BAKER FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
UH, AS HE SAID, MY NAME'S ASHLEY COPELAND.
I AM THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
AND TODAY WE WANT, UM, TO SAY THAT WE'RE SO HAPPY AND WE'RE HONORED TO BE A SPONSOR FOR THIS AWARDS BREAKFAST.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, WE'RE MORE HONORED TO STAND IN A ROOM FULL FILLED WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY.
EACH OF YOU SHOW UP READY TO RUN TOWARDS DANGER WHILE THE REST OF US ARE RUNNING AWAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
YOU ANSWER CALLS AT ALL HOURS IN ALL CONDITIONS, CARRYING NOT JUST EQUIPMENT, BUT YOU ALSO CARRY A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR LIVES, FOR HOMES, AND FOR THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
YOUR WORK IS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING, MENTALLY EXHAUSTING, AND OFTEN IT GOES UNSEEN BY THE PUBLIC.
YET EVEN THOUGH IT GOES UNSEEN, YOU DO IT WITH PROFESSIONALISM, COURAGE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE TODAY IS ABOUT RECOGNITION, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PAUSING LONG ENOUGH TO SAY OUT LOUD WHAT OFTEN GOES UNSAID.
THAT WHAT YOU DO MATTERS SO DEEPLY.
IT PROTECTS FAMILIES, AND IT GIVES THIS CITY, THIS GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN, A SENSE OF SAFETY AND TRUST THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE SOME UNSUNG HEROES IN THE ROOM.
THE FAMILIES OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THOSE LOVED ONES STAND BEHIND YOU NO MATTER WHAT.
THE SPOUSES, PARTNERS, CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS WHO LIVE WITH UNCERTAINTY OF YOUR SCHEDULES AND THE RISKS OF YOUR PROFESSION.
THE FAMILY SUPPORT IS NOT PASSIVE, BUT IT'S ACTIVE, IT'S CONSTANT, AND IT'S ESSENTIAL.
THE STRENGTH OF THIS DEPARTMENT IS INSEPARABLE FROM THE STRENGTH OF THE FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS IT.
SO WE CAN TAKE A MOMENT AND GIVE ROUND APPLAUSE FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE ROOM.
AUSTIN IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT REFLECTS THE VERY BEST OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THE COMMISSION IS PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU TODAY, BUT NOT JUST TODAY.
BUT WE'RE PROUD TO STAND WITH YOU IN ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE VALUES THAT YOU REPRESENT.
SO THIS MORNING, AS STORIES OF BRAVERY ARE TOLD AND AWARDS ARE PASSED OUT, LET THEM SERVE AS MORE THAN SYMBOLS OF ACHIEVEMENT.
LET THEM BE A COLLECTIVE THANK YOU FROM THE COMMISSION, FROM THIS COMMUNITY, AND FROM EVERYONE WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY YOUR SERVICE TO AUSTIN.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE STAND WITH YOU TODAY.
WHILE WE CHANGING POSITION HERE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE LOCAL 9 75 PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT GERARD, WILL YOU WAIT FOR EVERYONE? PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PRESENTATION AWARDS, SO I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER, NIM KIDD SERVES AS THE CHIEF OF THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS TEEM.
IN THIS CAPACITY, HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE'S EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE,
[00:10:01]
RECOVERY AND MITIGATION ACTIVITIES.PRIOR TO SERVING WITH TEEM, CHIEF KIDD WAS APPOINTED TO THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE WAS PROMOTED THROUGH THE RANKS FROM FIREFIGHTER TO DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF, INCLUDING LIEUTENANT IN CHARGE OF SAFD TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM, CAPTAIN OF THE SAFD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE TEAM.
FROM 2004 TO 2010, CHIEF KIDD SERVED AS THE CITY EMERGENCY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHERE HE MANAGED THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO OVER A DOZEN STATE AND PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER DECLARATIONS.
IN 1997, CHIEF KIDD WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE TEXAS TASK FORCE ONE URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM.
IN 2001, HE WAS THE PLANNED SECTION CHIEF THAT RESPONDED TO THE NINE 11 ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.
CHIEF KIDD FORMERLY SERVED AS CHAIR FOR THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL.
CHIEF KIDD HOLDS A MASTER'S OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY INTO ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES.
HE IS THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
HE IS ALSO A CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MANAGER, A TEXAS MASTER FIREFIGHTER AND HOLDS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATIONS CHIEF KID AND HIS WIFE, DR. EMILY KIDD, MD SHARED THREE CHILDREN IN A BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER TOGETHER, PLEASE WELCOME CHIEF OF THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, CHIEF NIM KID.
UH, MOST OF YOU WON'T BELIEVE THAT I KNEW THAT GUY WHEN HE WAS ABOUT THIS TALL 'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL NEVER THINK HE WAS THAT TALL, AS TALL AS HE IS NOW.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU CHIEF.
UM, I GOT ASKED TO SPEAK BY CHIEF MARTINEZ AND, UH, I SAID, SO, UH, EDDIE, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT
UM, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
THE, THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS EVENT AND FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT, UH, I WAS BLESSED TO GO TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WITH, FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS DIDN'T START IN 2001.
IT, IT STARTED LONG BEFORE THAT.
STARTED WITH ACTUALLY THE, THE MURRA CITY BOMBING.
UH, WHEN OKLAHOMA CITY HAPPENED, TEXAS, THE CENTRAL US DID NOT HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD GATHER TOGETHER TO GO HELP OTHERS IN NEED.
AND SO I WAS A YOUNG FIREFIGHTER IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WAS ACTUALLY ON LIGHT DUTY DOWN AT THE FIRE CHIEF'S OFFICE WHENEVER I WAS WATCHING IT ON THE TV AND SAID, HEY MAN, ARE WE GONNA SEND PEOPLE TO OKLAHOMA CITY? AND, AND A GUY NAMED JOE KEN RIO WAS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF AT THE TIME, AND HE SAID, NAH, A KID, WE WE'RE NEVER GONNA DO THAT.
YOU SEE, BACK THEN WE DIDN'T GO OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS.
I WORKED FOR A GUY NAMED MIKE MILLER, WHO A BUNCH OF THE TASK FORCE GUYS KNOW, AND CAPTAIN MILLER STARTED THE CITY'S TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND, UH, MIKE MILLER'S THE ONLY GUY THAT I KNOW THAT GOT A LETTER OF REPRIMAND AND A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR RESPONDING TO THE SAME EVENT BECAUSE IN SAN ANTONIO WE SURROUNDED ABOUT 13 INDIVIDUAL CITIES.
AND ONE STREET ON THE NORTHERN END OF OUR DISTRICT WAS CALLED BUR LANE.
THE NORTH SIDE OF BUR LANE WAS THE CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS.
THE SOUTH SIDE OF BERLIN LANE WAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
ENGINE FOUR PULLS UP ON SCENE.
THE CALL CAME IN FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET, FIRE WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STREET.
CAPTAIN MILLER ORDERED THE ATTACK LINES TO BE LAID, STARTED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE LETTER OF REPRIMAND FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR RESPONDING OUTSIDE OF HIS JURISDICTION.
AND A LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM THE CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS FOR SAVING THAT FAMILY IN THAT STRUCTURE.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS NATION FROM THOSE DAYS, BUT WE'VE DONE THAT AT THE SERVICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE WEARING THE UNIFORM.
UM, TALKING TO CHIEF FIERRO, WHO I, I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME AND, AND DAVID, WHERE ARE YOU? I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE SO P****D OFF AT ME.
THERE'S KIDS IN HERE FOR CALLING YOU OUT.
UH, CHIEF FIERRO AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER HAZMAT MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE NINE 11.
AND I, I ALWAYS, HE WAS THE FIRST GUY THAT I EVER REALLY KNEW IN THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND MAN, WHAT A MODEL, WHAT A REPRESENTATIVE.
CHIEF FIERRO, THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
Y'ALL CAN GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW HIM, IT'S YOUR LOSS.
WHEN WE WENT TO NINE 11, UH, HE REMINDED ME THIS MORNING, IT FEELS LIKE ALL WE EVER DID WAS SIT AROUND ON BUCKETS, BUT I THINK IT WAS MORE THAN THAT, DAVID.
I THINK WE BUILT FOUNDATIONS FOR HOW EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM RESPONDS TODAY AND ACROSS THIS NATION.
I THINK WE BUILT FRIENDSHIPS, THINK WE LEARNED THINGS THAT WE NEVER WANT TO, TO RELEARN AGAIN.
[00:15:01]
11 WORLD, WE SHOULD BE BETTER, OUR COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE BETTER, OUR TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BETTER BE BETTER, OUR TRAINING SHOULD BE BETTER.BUT IN MANY CASES, I STILL THINK WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
YOU SEE, UM, CHIEF BAKER, I'M, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS ORGANIZATION THAT YOU LEAD, YOU PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES HERE EVERY DAY, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WEAR THE UNIFORM OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, GOD BLESS YOU.
I I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FAMILIES.
UH, ASHLEY, YOUR WORDS WERE RIGHT ON POINT.
THE FAMILIES ARE REALLY THE BACKBONE OF HOW WE RESPOND.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THOSE, UH, ABOUT 467 MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS HAVE RESPONDED UNDER THE TEXAS INTERSTATE FIRE MUTUAL AID PROGRAM.
AND FOR THE FAMILIES, THAT'S WHERE THEY GO AWAY FROM YOU AND NOT RESPONDING IN AUSTIN, BUT GO ALL OVER THIS STATE AND SOMETIMES ALL OVER THIS NATION TO FIGHT FIRE FOR THOSE THAT NEED ADDITIONAL HELP.
AND THIS IS THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED, AND EVEN THE BIGGEST DEPARTMENT IN OUR NATION LIKE FDNY NEEDS HELP FROM TIME TO TIME.
SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE THAT GO OUT THE DOOR EVERY DAY, NOT ONLY IN THIS CITY, BUT IN THIS STATE, AND SUPPORT THE REST OF THE NATION.
ALSO FOR THE, UH, THE 72 MEMBERS OF TEXAS TASK FORCE ONE, UH, THE 72 ON THE WATER STRIKE TEAMS THAT HAVE GONE OUT THE DOOR ON URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS IN THE LAST, I THINK 11 YEARS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
YOUR SPECIALTY IN THE, IN THE LESSONS THAT YOU GET TO LEARN AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THIS CITY.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND YOU BRING BACK HERE AND EMPLOY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS AND CITIZENS EVERY DAY.
WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY AND WHAT WE'LL DO TOMORROW.
I, I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW I'M READY FOR WHATEVER CHALLENGE IS GONNA GET DROPPED ON US.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS JOB IS BACKING INTO THE STATION FROM THE LAST CALL AND EITHER HIGH FIVING OR LICK IN YOUR WOUNDS AND GETTING READY FOR WHATEVER MAY COME NEXT.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND DO THAT.
I'M ALSO REMINDED THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE THINK WE'RE COOL, NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT WE THINK WE ARE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH OUR FAMILY THINKS, WE DO A GREAT JOB.
UM, LAST NIGHT I STAYED AT THE DOUBLE TREE RIGHT ACROSS I 35.
SO THIS MORNING I GET UP AND I GO IN THERE TO GET MY COFFEE DOWNSTAIRS AND I'M IN MY UNIFORM AND I'M THINKING, ALL RIGHT, THE LADY SAYS, UH OH, YOU'RE A PILOT FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
AND I WAS LIKE, NO MA'AM, I'M NOT A PILOT.
AND SHE GOES, OH, THAT'LL BE $4 AND 33 CENTS TO MARK.
WHERE YOU AT? MARK? THERE YOU ARE BUDDY.
EDDIE MARTINEZ, CHIEF MARTINEZ, WHERE ARE YOU AT? EDDIE.
IS RALPH RUNNING AROUND HERE? I THOUGHT I SAW RALPH.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH ME EVERY DAY, BUDDY.
WERE YOU SITTING OVER THERE? ROGER? THERE YOU ARE.
OKAY, AND I ALREADY CALLED OUT CHIEF FIRO, DAVID, ALEX, AND TRAVIS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T EXPECT ANY OF YOU TO REMEMBER ME OR ANYTHING I'VE SAID TODAY, BUT NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID TO US AND NEVER FORGET THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT RAN TOWARDS IT AND NEVER FORGET THE FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL SERVING AND SACRIFICING TODAY.
CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING EMOTIONAL.
I WAS READING THAT I WAS, UH, A LITTLE, LITTLE GUY, UH, ADMIRING SOMEBODY THAT HUNG OUT WITH MY BROTHER ALL THE TIME.
UH, I LOVE THAT GUY, UM, LIKE NO OTHER.
AND, AND APPRECIATE ALL HE'S DONE.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS EVERY DAY.
UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED US WHO HAVE NOT JOINED US FOR A PREVIOUS CEREMONY, YOU'LL NOTICE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.
WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HONORS TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE EACH INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE.
WHILE REMAINING MINDFUL OF YOUR TIME TO KEEP THIS CEREMONY MOVING EFFICIENTLY AND TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR MEMBERS, WE HAVE OMITTED THE TRADITIONAL RECEIVING LINE HANDSHAKES FROM OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF AND SPECIAL GUESTS.
ADDITIONALLY, TO ENSURE A SEAMLESS FLOW, WE KINDLY ASK THAT THE NEXT GROUP OF AWARDEES BEGIN STAGING IN THE DESIGNATED AREA, WHICH IS OVER HERE, UH, TO YOUR RIGHT.
UM, AS THE GROUP PRIORS RECEIVING
[00:20:01]
THEIR HONORS.WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WE CELEBRATE THESE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS.
WITH THAT, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATIONS AND, UH, WITH THIS YEAR, THE NFL DRAFT, THE DALLAS COWBOYS WOULD LIKE TO
YEAH, THAT'S WHY GOODELL GETS BOOZE.
UM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE AWARDS WITH A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP AND SURVIVAL.
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025, WHILE ON A WILDERNESS HUNTING TRIP FAR FROM THE NEAREST TOWN, A MEMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
IT KNOCKED HIM UNCONSCIOUS, CAUSED HIS HEART TO STOP AND LEFT HIM WITH SEVERE BURNS AND INTERNAL INJURIES.
HE WAS OVER A MILE FROM A TRAIL HEAD AND MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY FROM ANY MEDICAL FACILITY.
HIS HUNTING BUDDY CHAD MOSS, WAS ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY WHEN THE STRIKE OCCURRED.
DESPITE HAVING LIMITED MEDICAL TRAINING, HE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED INTO ACTION.
HE USED A SATELLITE PHONE TO CALL FOR EMERGENCY RESCUE AND BEGAN CPR WITHOUT HESITATION.
AGAINST ALL ODDS, CHAD SUCCESSFULLY RESUSCITATED OUR COLLEAGUE, BRINGING HIM BACK TO LIFE, AND THEN STAYED BY HIS SIDE GUIDING PROFESSIONAL RESCUERS TO THEIR REMOTE LOCATION TO ENSURE HE RECEIVED THE URGENT MEDICAL TRANSPORT HE NEEDED.
CHAD'S COMPOSURE AND QUICK THINKING IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION ARE THE REASON OUR FELLOW CAPTAIN IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
WE ARE HONORED TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE HIS BRAVERY AND HIS LIFESAVING EFFORTS WITH A LETTER OF ACCOMMODATION, CHAD MOSS.
SO AS, AS CHAD'S COMING UP HERE, I'LL TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT, UH, OUR, OUR CAPTAIN.
THIS GUY WILL, WILL PACK 10 15 MILES INTO THE MOUNTAINS WAY, WAY FAR, UH, TO, TO GO HUNTING, AND IT WAS ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, UH, WHERE HE WAS STRUCK.
THE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION IS AWARDED TO ANY MEMBER OR CIVILIAN WHO HAS RENDERED DISTINGUISHED AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO A FD OR FIRE SERVICE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THEIR ASSIGNMENT OR A VOLUNTEER BASIS.
IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, 2023, FIRE SPECIALIST KEVIN CROW BEGAN TEACHING STOP THE BLEED PROGRAM AND RESPONSE TO INCREASED COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
SINCE THEN, HE HAS DEDICATED BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY TIME TO EDUCATE NEARLY 800 STUDENTS, INCLUDING COUNCIL CITY, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND RESIDENTS IN HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES.
THROUGH THESE TWO HOUR CLASSES, KEVIN AND A TEAM OF RESPONDERS PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING AND TOURNIQUET APPLICATION AND WOUND PACKING, OFTEN PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH TRAUMA KITS TO TAKE HOME.
HIS COMMITMENT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE COMMUNITY READINESS AND AWARENESS ACROSS AUSTIN FOR HIS DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN EMULATING THE CORE VALUES OF OUR DEPARTMENT, WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT KEVIN CARLO WITH A CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMMODATION.
IN THE WAKE OF THE JULY, 2025 FLOODS, CAPTAIN ISAAC RODRIGUEZ DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE BY ESTABLISHING A BASE CAMP OF OPERATIONS AT A TIME WHEN NO OFFICIAL RESOURCES WERE YET DEDICATED.
CAPTAIN RODRIGUEZ ORGANIZED AN IMPROMPTU INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM AND COMMAND POST TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RESPONSE STRUCTURE, ACTING AS THE INCIDENT COMMANDER.
HE MANAGED LOCAL OPERATIONS FOR MOST OF THE MONTH, MAINTAINING ORDER AND SAFETY UNTIL RESOURCES ARRIVED ON SCENE UNDER HIS DIRECTION.
VOLUNTEER CREWS FROM AUSTIN FIRE, ALONG WITH VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONDUCTED A MASSIVE SEARCH OPERATION COVERING APPROXIMATELY 2000 ACRES WITHIN SANDY CREEK AND ROUND MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE IMPACT EXTENDED FAR BEYOND TACTICAL OPERATIONS.
THE GROUP SUCCESSFULLY COORDINATED ESSENTIAL FOOD SERVICES AND SECURED HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISPLACED RESIDENTS WHO HAD LOST THEIR HOMES.
FACING THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, CAPTAIN RODRIGUEZ AND HIS TEAM PRESERVED TO RECOVER THE MULTIPLE VICTIMS, ENSURING THAT THE MISSION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH DIGNITY AND THOROUGHNESS FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES OF ACCOMMODATION.
CAPTAIN ISAAC RODRIGUEZ, CAPTAIN MARSHALL DANDRIDGE, BATTALION CHIEF DAVID HEATON, LIEUTENANT JERRY COHEN, LIEUTENANT JAMIE BOON, FIRE SPECIALIST, JOHN MCKINNEY, FIRE SPECIALIST JASON PIAZ, FIRE SPECIALIST RUSSELL RAMIREZ.
FIREFIGHTER ANGIE BROWSKI, FIREFIGHTER COLTON DANDRIDGE, FIREFIGHTER CARLOS LUCERO, FIREFIGHTER SAM REYNOLDS, AND FIREFIGHTER
[00:25:01]
DEREK KO.THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, PROVIDING OUTSTANDING SERVICE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENTS OR THROUGH DEDICATED VOLUNTEERISM.
IT IS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND SERVE WITH SELF INTENT.
FOR OVER A DECADE, CHIEF TODD POMEROY HAS SERVED AS A VITAL BRIDGE BETWEEN AUSTIN FIRE AND AUSTIN POLICE BLUE SANTA PROGRAM.
SINCE 2013, CHIEF POMEROY HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND HIS REGULAR DUTIES, VOLUNTEERING HIS OWN TIME TO ENSURE THIS COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FLOURISHED.
HIS DEDICATION EVENTUALLY LED HIM TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD WHERE HE OVERSAW THE PROGRAM'S MISSION OF PROVIDING HOLIDAY GIFTS TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
BECAUSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BECOME A TRUSTED PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT, HELPING TO DELIVER JOY AND SUPPORT TO THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBORS ACROSS OUR CITY.
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT CHIEF PALMORE WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
THANK YOU, CHIEF FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
A UNIT CITATION IS AWARDED TO A UNIT WHOSE PERFORMANCE WAS AN UNEQUAL PERSONAL EFFORT IN OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES OR OBSTACLES IN THE COMPLETION OF A DIFFICULT TASK AND HAS RESULTED IN THE PROTECTION OF LIFE OR PROPERTY.
DURING THE UT VERSUS GEORGIA FOOTBALL GAME ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2024, THE CREW OF ENGINE TWO WAS ON A STANDBY FOR FIRE SAFETY.
AMIDST A HIGHLY ENERGIZED AND CHAOTIC STADIUM CROWD, THE CREW WAS ALERTED TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THE STANDS.
THOUGH THEY WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH MEDICAL GEAR AT THAT MOMENT, THEY REALIZED THAT EVERY SECOND COUNT, FIREFIGHTER RICARDO AGIRI SCALED THE STADIUM WALL TO REACH THE STANDS.
FOLLOWED BY FIREFIGHTER RYAN WATSON, PAUL RILEY, AND LIEUTENANT AARON IVERSSON.
THEY FOUND AN UN UNCONSCIOUS PATIENT WITH NO PULSE WEDGE BETWEEN ROWS OF BLEACHERS.
THE CREW MOVED THE PATIENT OVER A HANDRAIL DOWN TO A WALK WHERE WALKWAY, WHERE THEY COULD BEGIN LIFESAVING TREATMENT.
ALONG WITH ARRIVING MEDICS, THEY PERFORMED HIGH QUALITY CPR AND WERE ABLE TO REGAIN THE PATIENT'S PULSE FOR THEIR DECISIVE ACTIONS.
THAT DAY WE RECOGNIZED THE CREW OF ENGINE TWO C WITH A UNIT CITATION.
AFTER I READ THIS, I ASKED LT WAS THAT, UH, WAS THAT PERSON WEARING A GEORGIA SHIRT? AND HE SAID, NO COMMENT.
AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM AN 18 WHEELER SLAMMED INTO MULTIPLE CARS, RESULTING IN A MULTI CASUAL INCIDENT IN NORTH AUSTIN.
THE 17 VEHICLE PILE UP RESULTED IN 15 INJURED PEOPLE, AND TRAGICALLY THE LIVES OF FIVES WERE LOST.
THE INITIAL SCENE WAS PURE CHAOS, A DEBRIS FIELD STRETCHING OVER A 10TH OF A MILE WITH MULTIPLE WALK-IN, WOUNDED, DECEASED AND PATIENTS TRAPPED INSIDE MANGLED VEHICLES.
NICHOLAS REOS MANAGED TO STOP HIS TRUCK JUST IN TIME AND IMMEDIATELY RUSHED INTO THE CHAOS TO HELP HIS DECISIVE ACTIONS, INCLUDING PULLING A WOMAN FROM A VEHICLE AND CALM PRESENCE PROVED INVALUABLE DURING THE EMERGENCY.
AS FIRE CREWS ARRIVED, HE PROVIDED AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF PATIENTS, IDENTIFIED THOSE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS, WHICH ALLOWED RESPONDERS TO PRIORITIZE LIFESAVING EFFORTS.
HE ALSO REMAINED VIGILANT THROUGHOUT THE RESPONSE AT ONE POINT, IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS FILMING THE TRAGEDY
[00:30:01]
AND ASSISTING AND HAVING THEM LEAVE THE AREA TO MAINTAIN DIGNITY OF THE VICTIMS. MR. RETOS SELFLESS BRAVERY AND ASSISTANCE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THE LIVES AND SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDERS.ENGINE 40 AND LADDER 40 WERE THE FIRST UNITS TO ARRIVE ON SCENE.
THEY ESTABLISHED COMMAND AND BEGAN THE DIFFICULT PROCESS OF TRIAGING AND CARING FOR PATIENTS, MANY OF WHOM WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THEIR VEHICLES.
DUE TO THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF FIRE UNITS ON SCENE, ALL CRITICAL PATIENTS WERE EXTRICATED AND TRANSPORTED TO NEARBY HOSPITALS WITHIN 40 MINUTES, THUS ACHIEVING THE LIFESAVING GOAL OF THE GOLDEN HOUR.
THE CRUCIAL PERIOD AFTER AN INJURY WHERE APPROPRIATE LIFESAVING MEDICAL OR SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS CAN OFFER THE HIGHEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL FOR A TRAUMATIC INJURY PATIENT.
FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCENE, NICHOLAS RETOS IS AWARDED THE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION AND FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONALISM IN HANDLING A STRING TASK.
THE CREWS OF ENGINE 40 AND LADDER 40 B ARE AWARDED UNIT CITATIONS.
ON MARCH 15TH, 2025, THE CREW OF ENGINE 26 A HAD TO TRANSITION FROM ROUTINE TRAINING INTO ACTION WHEN A LOCAL RESIDENT ALERTED THEM TO A FIRE JUST BLOCKS FROM THEIR STATION.
LOOKING TOWARD THE HORIZON, LIEUTENANT MIKE NELSON AND HIS TEAM OBSERVED A MASSIVE COLUMN OF BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM A DENSELY POPULATED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, A CLEAR SIGN OF A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING EMERGENCY.
UPON ARRIVAL, THE CREW WAS MET WITH A DAUNTING SCENE.
TWO MULTIFAMILY HOMES WERE ALREADY ENGULFED.
THE FIRE WAS RAPIDLY SPREADING TO A THIRD.
RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE CATASTROPHE.
THE CREW IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND WENT TO WORK WHILE FACING INTENSE HEAT AND RAPIDLY DETERRING CONDITIONS.
ENGINE 26 A PERFORMED WITH EXCEPTIONAL COORDINATION.
THEY SIMULTANEOUSLY ESTABLISHED A WATER SUPPLY, DEPLOYED FIRE HOSES TO PROTECT NEIGHBORING HOMES AND PUSHED INTO THE BURNING STRUCTURES TO SEARCH FOR TRAPPED RESIDENCE.
AS THE EMERGENCY ESCALATED, THE CREW WAS INFORMED OF YET ANOTHER BUILDING ON FIRE ON A NEIGHBORING STREET.
UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE, THEY MAINTAINED THEIR COMPOSURE EFFECTIVELY MANAGING THREE SEPARATE STRUCTURE FIRES, COORDINATING A MASSIVE INCOMING RESPONSIVE EMERGENCY UNITS, AND PROVIDING A CALM PRESENCE FOR FRANTIC RESIDENTS BEFORE ADDITIONAL STAFF ARRIVED.
ENGINE 26 A HAD ALREADY BROUGHT THE MAIN FIRE UNDER CONTROL AND DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WOULD STOP THE BLAZE.
THEIR QUICK THINKING AND DECISIVE LEADERSHIP PREVENTED A DEVASTATING LOSS OF PROPERTY AND SAVE LIVES FOR THEIR BRAVERY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND SELFLESS SERVICE.
UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE CREW OF ENGINE 26 A WITH A UNIT CITATION.
LIEUTENANT MIKE NELSON, FIRE SPECIALIST JOSH LEWIS, FIREFIGHTER SAMSON SALLY AND FIREFIGHTER JASON ZA.
SO AS THEY'RE TAKING PICTURES, I MADE THIS FIRE, UH, AND BATTALION CHIEF ANDY REARDEN WAS, UH, FIRST IC.
I CAME UP, I THINK I WAS THE SECOND OR THIRD CHIEF, AND WHEN I SAW ALL THAT FIRE IN THOSE MULTIPLE BUILDINGS, I JUST THOUGHT HOW IN THE WORLD, UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, MIKE NELSON IS AS CALM AS A CUCUMBER AND, UH, HE HAD IT ALL LAID OUT.
THE SUMMER OF 2025 IN CENTRAL TEXAS WAS DEFINED NOT BY HEAT, BUT BY HISTORIC RAINFALL AND DEVASTATING FLASH FLOODS.
SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ON JULY 5TH, A TROPICAL WEATHER SYSTEM MOVED ACROSS THE AREA TRIGGERING A CRISIS IN NORTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY.
WITHIN A FEW HOURS, FIRE DISPATCH WAS FLOODED WITH OVER A HUNDRED WATER RELATED EMERGENCY CALLS.
PEOPLE WERE BEING PULLED INTO THE LAKE BY POWERFUL CURRENTS.
AS OTHERS WATCHED AS THEIR VEHICLES AND HOMES WERE SWEPT AWAY BY WISENING WATER.
MANY WERE STRANDED WITH NO PATH TO HIGHER GROUND, WORKING UNDER EXTREME STRESS AND RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS.
DISPATCH SERVED AS A LIFELINE.
THEY PROVIDED CALM LIFESAVING INSTRUCTIONS TO THOSE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER.
WHILE COORDINATING A MASSIVE RESPONSE OF
[00:35:01]
RESCUE TEAMS IN THE FIELD.THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE A MULTITUDE OF REQUESTS AND PRECISELY DIRECT RESOURCES RESULTED IN MULTIPLE LIVES BEING SAVED FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE COMPOSURE AND LIFESAVING ACTIONS.
ON THE MORNING OF JULY 5TH, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF OUR FIRE DISPATCH STAFF, AS WELL AS SHIFT COMMANDER MARK BRIDGES WITH A UNIT CITATION BATTALION CHIEF ANDREW CHF, LIEUTENANT DARRYL BURNS, LIEUTENANT JAMIE HARVEY, LIEUTENANT JULIE MOGIE, FIRE SPECIALIST NICOLE BRYANT, FIRE SPECIALIST MIKE FAFF, FIRE SPECIALIST MATT ZELENSKY.
FIREFIGHTER CASSANDRA HEDBERG, FIREFIGHTER SANDY HAME.
JANET CALLAS, FIREFIGHTER MIKE KENNY.
FIREFIGHTER ELLIOT KOOL, FIREFIGHTER RYAN LAMBERT.
THE MEDAL OF MERIT IS AWARDED TO ANY MEMBER WHO SAVES THE LIFE OR ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A HUMAN BEING BY AN ACT OF RESCUE.
THIS ACT MUST BE OF A CONSPICUOUS, CONSPICUOUS NATURE AND IS DEFINED AS REMOVAL OF A PERSON FROM SERIOUS DANGER.
ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, THE CREW OF ENGINE 16 ARRIVED AS THE FIRST UNIT AT A HOUSE FIRE WITH HEAVY FLAMES SHOWING WHILE BEGINNING THE FIRE ATTACK.
THEY WERE INFORMED THAT A WOMAN WAS STILL TRAPPED INSIDE HEARING SCREAMS FROM WITHIN.
FIREFIGHTER ZUL ENTERED THE BURNING STRUCTURE AND LOCATED THE VICTIM ON THE FLOOR APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET INSIDE THE LIVING AREA, FIREFIGHTER ZUL PICKED UP THIS DISORIENTED VICTIM AND CARRIED HER TO THE FRONT DOOR WHERE HE WAS ASSISTED BY FIREFIGHTER REYNOLDS FROM ENGINE 14.
IN MOVING HER TO SAFETY FOR THEIR SWIFT ACTIONS AND COORDINATED RESCUE EFFORTS, WE HONOR THE CREW OF ENGINE 16 AND ENGINE 14, ALONG WITH FIREFIGHTER ZUL FOR THEIR LIFESAVING BRAVERY.
FIREFIGHTER JOHN ZUL IS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF MERIT FOR RESCUING A CIVILIAN FROM FIRE CONDITIONS.
BOTH THE CREWS OF ENGINE 14 B AND ENGINE 16 B ARE AWARDED UNIT CITATIONS.
ENGINE 14 B, FIRE SPECIALIST STEVEN NORMAN, FIREFIGHTER CASEY ANO FIREFIGHTER CALEB GARNER, FIREFIGHTER SAM REYNOLDS, ENGINE 16 B.
FIREFIGHTER ETHAN HERNANDEZ, STRIPLING FIREFIGHTER TIM KRAUSE, FIREFIGHTER JOHN ZUL.
ON THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 15TH, 2025, FIRE UNITS RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A PERSON IN DISTRESS IN COLD WATERS OF LADY BIRD LAKE WITH WATER TEMPERATURES IN FORTIES, THE VICTIM WAS RAPIDLY LOSING MUSCLE CONTROL AND STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT.
FIREFIGHTERS ANDREW STYLE AND JORDAN TAHIRI IMMEDIATELY ENTERED THE WATER ON RESCUE BOARDS WORKING TOGETHER IN THE DARK.
THEY REACHED THE FATIGUE VICTIM, SECURED HIM WITH A LIFE JACKET AND TOWED HIM SAFELY BACK TO THE SHORE.
MEANWHILE, THE CREW OF ENGINE SIX PROVIDED VITAL LIGHTING AND DIRECTION FROM THE BRIDGE.
ABOVE THEIR SWIFT COORDINATION, COORDINATED ACTIONS PREVENTED A CERTAIN DROWNING.
WE RECOGNIZE THESE CREWS FOR THEIR TEAMWORK AND FIREFIGHTER TAHIRI AND STYLE FOR THEIR BRAVERY, WHICH THEY ARE BEING AWARDED THE MEDAL OF MERIT FOR HIS ROLE AS THE INCIDENT COMMANDER BATTALION CHIEF DAVE HEATON IS RECOGNIZED FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE.
DAVE HEATON FOR SUPPORT DURING THE RESCUE OPERATIONS, WE AWARD THE CREWS OF ENGINE ONE, ENGINE SIX AND TRUCK ONE WITH UNIT CITATIONS.
ENGINE ONE CREW, FIRE SPECIALIST OELL, LEON FIREFIGHTER, ARNE FIREFIGHTER, EDGAR PORTILLO, FIREFIGHTER ANDREW STYLE ENGINE SIX, CREW, FIRE SPECIALIST CLAYTON PARKER, FIREFIGHTER JOHN DOTY, FIREFIGHTER KYLE BERRA, FIREFIGHTER JAKE SIMPSON TRUCK ONE CREW CAPTAIN ALEX VENEGAS, FIREFIGHTER KEITH CLARK.
FIREFIGHTER ERIC REEDER AND FIREFIGHTER JORDAN TAHIRI.
[00:40:30]
I DON'T WANNA SAY IT'S A CONSPIRACY, BUT SOME REASON DAVE HEATON'S IN MOST OF THESE PICTURES,IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MARCH 23RD, 2025, CREWS OF ENGINE 42 RESPONDED TO WHAT WAS INITIALLY REPORTED AS A ROUTINE TRAFFIC CRASH.
UPON ARRIVAL, THEY DISCOVERED A HIGH SPEED ROLLOVER COLLISION IN WHICH A VEHICLE HAD CREAMED THROUGH A FENCE.
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CRUSHED AND HEAVILY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
ANTICIPATING THE DANGER, FIREFIGHTER PILO HAD ALREADY DAWNED HIS PROTECTIVE FIRE GEAR BEFORE THE ENGINE CAME TO A STOP.
AS HE APPROACHED THE BURNING WRECKAGE WITH A HOSE LINE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON THE SCENE DELIVERED CRITICAL NEWS.
THE DRIVER WAS STILL TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
LIEUTENANT DAVIS AND FIREFIGHTER WATSON ATTEMPTED A RESCUE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT FOUND THE VICTIM'S POSITION MADE REMOVAL IMPOSSIBLE.
FIREFIGHTER PILO SET DOWN THE FIRE HOSE AND MOVED DIRECTLY INTO THE ACTIVE FLAMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
TO ASSIST DISREGARDING HIS OWN SAFETY, HE WORKED WITHIN THE FIRE TO FREE THE DRIVER.
TOGETHER, THE CREW SUCCESSFULLY PULLED THE VICTIM TO SAFETY.
ONCE THE RESCUE WAS COMPLETE, FIREFIGHTER PILO IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE BURNING VEHICLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHILE THE REST OF THE CREW PROVIDED LIFESAVING MEDICAL CARE TO THE DRIVER.
THOUGH THIS INCIDENT WAS COMPRISED OF RESPONDERS FROM FOUR STATIONS, THE CREW OPERATED WITH A LEVEL OF SEAMLESSNESS AND BRAVERY THAT DEFINED THE BEST OF THE FIRE SERVICE FIREFIGHTERS.
PILOS HESITATION FREE MOVE TO A LIFE-THREATENING ENVIRONMENT GAVE THE VICTIM THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL FOR HIS SELF SELFLESS DEDICATION AND EXCEPTIONAL TEAMWORK.
UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS, WE HONOR FIREFIGHTER JALEN POLO WITH THE MEDAL OF MERIT.
ENGINE 41 CREW IS AWARDED A UNIT CITATION.
LIEUTENANT BRIAN DAVIS, FIRE SPECIALIST JOHN TRUJILLO.
FIREFIGHTER JALEN PILLOW FIREFIGHTER RYAN WATSON.
HOW MUCH? ON JULY 5TH, 2025, ENGINE 20 WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE AT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
WITH FIRE ALREADY VENTING THROUGH THE ROOF, THE CREW IMMEDIATELY ENTERED THE BURNING STRUCTURE TO BEGIN SEARCHING FOR TRAP VICTIMS. WHILE PREPARING TO FIGHT THE GROWING BLAZE, THE TEAM PRIORITIZED A SEARCH OF THE BEDROOMS. THEIR INSTINCTS PROVED CORRECT.
WHEN THEY LOCATED A PERSON INSIDE WORKING TOGETHER UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS, THE INDIVIDUAL WAS CARRIED BACK THROUGH THE SMOKE IN HEAT TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE, SUCCESSFULLY REMOVING THEM FROM HARM'S WAY.
THE QUICK ACTIONS AND SEAMLESS TEAMWORK OF FIREFIGHTER SCHNEIDER AND FIREFIGHTER YOUNG WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THE PERSON FOR THIS HEROIC ACT.
FIREFIGHTER SCHNEIDER AND FIREFIGHTER STEVEN YOUNG RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF MERIT AT THIS SAME FIRE FOR THEIR ROLE IN ENSURING BOTH FIREFIGHTER AND CIVILIAN SAFETY.
ENGINE 20 A, ENGINE 36 A AND TRUCK 36 A RECEIVE UNIT CITATIONS ENGINE 20 A CREW CAPTAIN, JEREMY OPUS, FIREFIGHTER MCKENZIE, HAGER, FIREFIGHTER, CHRIS SNYDER, FIREFIGHTER STEVEN YOUNG, ENGINE 36, A CREW.
LIEUTENANT JOHN STEELE, FIRE SPECIALIST KYLE TONE, FIREFIGHTER MORGAN HOLT.
CREW CAPTAIN SEAN COGGINS, FIRE SPECIALIST IAN DOW.
FIREFIGHTER TUCKER LEON AND FIREFIGHTER KYLE KREMMER
[00:45:03]
RIGHT HERE.UPON ARRIVING AT A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE ON AUGUST 20TH, 2025, ENGINE 27 WAS MET WITH A DISTRAUGHT HOMEOWNER WHO REPORTED HIS WIFE WAS STILL TRAPPED INSIDE THE BURNING BUILDING.
LIEUTENANT GERTZ AND FIREFIGHTER HAGEN ENTERED THE HOME IMMEDIATELY TO PERFORM A, TO PERFORM A PRIMARY SEARCH CONDITIONS DETERIORATED RAPIDLY AS THEY REACHED THE MAIN BEDROOM WITH ZERO VISIBILITY, FLOOR TO CEILING, BLACK SMOKE, AND INTENSE HEAT FROM A NEARBY FIRE.
IN THE BATHROOM UNDER HEAVY SMOKE AND LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS, FIREFIGHTER HAGAN DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND SUCCESSFULLY LOCATED THE VICTIM.
FIREFIGHTER HAGAN THEN SINGLE-HANDEDLY MOVED THE VICTIM FROM THE BURNING ROOM THROUGH THE HALLWAY TO SAFETY, WHILE LIEUTENANT T'S COORDINATED WITH INCOMING CREWS TO ESTABLISH A WATER SUPPLY.
THOUGH THE VICTIM TRAGICALLY DID NOT SURVIVE FIREFIGHTER HAGEN'S SELFLESS ACTIONS AND WILLINGNESS TO RISK HIS OWN LIFE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE ANOTHER.
REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST TRADITION OF THE FIRE SERVICE FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE AND INITIATIVE.
UNDER PRESSURE, LIEUTENANT MATT GERTZ AND FIREFIGHTER MADISON HAGEN IS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF MERIT, RIGHT? YES.
AND FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE RESCUE OPERATIONS IN 27 C IS AWARDED THE UNIT CITATION.
LIEUTENANT MATT GERTZ, FIRE SPECIALIST CATHERINE MARCOS, FIREFIGHTER MADISON HAGEN AND TONY MORENO.
UPON ARRIVAL AT A STRUCTURE FIRE ON JUNE 2ND, 2025, THE CREW OF LADDER 18 QUICKLY GATHERED CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE FROM A RESIDENT ON SCENE, CONFIRMING THAT TWO PEOPLE WERE STILL TRAPPED INSIDE, RECOGNIZING THAT THE FIRE WAS SPREADING RAPIDLY BUT HAD NOT YET CONSUMED THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
THE CREW PIVOTED TO A HIGH RISK RESCUE TACTIC KNOWN AS VEIS VENT, ENTER ISOLATE SEARCH WITH LADDERS PLACED AND WINDOWS CLEARED.
FIREFIGHTER CHRISTIAN RUSH AND FIREFIGHTER COLEMAN JOHNSON ENTERED THE SMOKE FIELD BUILDING THROUGH A SECONDARY STORY WINDOW.
WHILE FIRE SPECIALIST RUSS RAMIREZ MAINTAINED VITAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE LADDER.
DESPITE FIRE ROLLING THROUGH THE HALLS AND ACROSS THE CEILING ABOVE THEM, THE TEAM LOCATED THE FIRST VICTIM WITHIN JUST 45 SECONDS BEFORE NAVIGATING A DIFFICULT EGRESS TO PASS THE VICTIM THROUGH THE WINDOW TO SAFETY.
KNOWING A SECOND PERSON WAS STILL INSIDE THE CREW COURAGEOUSLY REENTERED THE STRUCTURE.
THEY CONTINUED TO SEARCH BEDROOMS AND HALLWAYS UNDER DETERIORATING CONDITIONS UNTIL FIRE FORCED THEM TO EVACUATE.
THE MEMBERS OF LADDER 18 ACTED WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, ARRIVING FULLY PREPARED AND RISKING THEIR LIVES TO UPHOLD THEIR OATH TO THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING THEIR COURAGE AND DEDICATION FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS.
FIRE SPECIALIST RUSSELL RAMIREZ, FIREFIGHTER COLEMAN JOHNSON AND FIREFIGHTER CHRISTIAN RUSH, RECEIVE THE MEDAL OF MERIT FOR THEIR PROFICIENCY IN INCIDENT COMMAND AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
CAPTAIN ISAAC RODRIGUEZ AND RETIRED BATTALION CHIEF ANDY REARDEN ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AT THIS FIRE I
[00:50:12]
FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF RESCUE OPERATIONS LADDER 18 A IN RESCUE 14 WILL RECEIVE UNIT CITATIONS.LADDER 18, A CREW CAPTAIN ISAAC RODRIGUEZ, FIRE SPECIALIST RUSSELL RAMIREZ.
FIREFIGHTER COLEMAN JOHNSON, FIREFIGHTER CHRISTIAN RUSS RESCUE 14, A CREW LIEUTENANT BRIAN BROWN, FIREFIGHTER NICK DINO, FIREFIGHTER NICK SCHROER AND FIREFIGHTER WILL WELDON.
OH, UNIT CITATIONS OR LETTER 18 A WE JUST GAVE ABOUT.
I'M LIKE, WHERE'S THAT GUY AT? ISAAC? THOSE ARE PROPS.
I FOUND IT ON MAY 28TH, 2025, A V VIOLENT STORM BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN INHALED TO THE CITY WITH ALMOST NO WARNING.
AS FLASH FLOODS SURGED THROUGH THE A CREEK BED, TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE SWEPT AWAY FROM A MAJOR HIGHWAY.
ONE PERSON WAS ABLE TO GET OUTTA THE WATER WITH THE HELP OF POLICE OFFICERS, A SECOND VICTIM REMAINED TRAPPED.
THE CREW OF ENGINE 14, HAVING JUST CLEARED ANOTHER EMERGENCY SELF-ASSIGNED TO THE CALL AND POSITIONED THEMSELVES DOWNSTREAM TO ATTEMPT A RESCUE.
THEY EVENTUALLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE SECOND VICTIM ABOUT 200 YARDS AWAY.
HE WAS EXHAUSTED AND CLINGING TO DOWNED TREE BRANCHES WITH HIS FACE BARELY ABOVE RISING WATER.
WITHOUT HESITATION, FIREFIGHTERS CLAYTON WIRTH AND AARON TURCOTT DESCENDED INTO THE CREEK BED.
WORKING TOGETHER IN FAST MOVING CURRENTS, THEY REACHED THE VICTIM AND SUCCESSFULLY PULLED HIM TO SAFETY OF SHORE.
MEANWHILE, LIEUTENANT MERRIT AND FIRE SPECIALIST HATCHERSON CREATED A HUMAN CHAIN TO RETRIEVE ALL PERSONNEL AND VICTIMS FROM THE WATER.
BECAUSE OF THEIR QUICK DECISION MAKING AND WILLINGNESS TO ENTER A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.
A LIFE WAS SAVED DURING THE PEAK OF THE STORM FOR THEIR LIFESAVING EFFORTS.
THEIR CREW OF ENGINE 14 C IS AWARDED MEDAL OF MERIT AS WELL AS A UNIT.
CITATION LIEUTENANTS, MERIT FIRE SPECIALIST DAN HATCHERSON, FIREFIGHTER AARON TURCOTT, FIREFIGHTER CLAYTON WIRTH.
THE MEDAL OF VALOR IS AWARDED TO ANY MEMBER WHO HAS PERFORMED A COURAGEOUS ACT UNDER CONDITIONS OF EXTREME DANGER AND AT THE EXCEPTIONAL RISK OF BODILY INJURY, ENACT THAT CLEARLY EXCEEDS WHAT IS REQUIRED AND HAS RESULTED IN THE PROTECTION OF A LIFE IN A MANNER CONSIDERED TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY VALIANT.
ON APRIL 13TH, 2025, THE CREW OF ENGINE 33 FELT THE GROUND SHAKE BEFORE THE ALARMS EVEN SOUNDED AND EXPLOSION HAD RIPPED THROUGH A NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THOUGH THE INITIAL DISPATCH INFORMATION WAS CONFUSING, ENGINE 33 NAVIGATED DIRECTLY TO THE HEART OF THE DISASTER.
THEY ARRIVED TO FIND A SCENE OF TOTAL DEVASTATION.
A HOME HAD BEEN REDUCED TO A PILE OF SPLINTERED WOOD AND CONCRETE.
AS NEIGHBORS POINTED TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY, LIEUTENANT JUSTIN CLOSS CONFIRMED THE UNTHINKABLE A MAN WAS ALIVE WOULD BURIED DEEP WITHIN THE UNSTABLE RUINS.
LIEUTENANT CLOSS AND FIREFIGHTER CAMPBELL MADE A HARROWING DECISION TO REACH THE TRAP VICTIM.
THEY HAD TO CRAWL INTO THE TIGHT JAGGED GAPS OF RUB OF RUBBLE PILE.
THE SPACE WAS SO CONFINED THAT THEY WERE FORCED TO REMOVE THEIR AIR PACKS, LEAVING THEMSELVES UNPROTECTED AGAINST SMOKE AND
[00:55:01]
POTENTIAL SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS AND THE THREAT OF FURTHER COLLAPSE.DEEP WITHIN THE WRECKAGE, THEY FOUND THE VICTIM PIN UNDER A MASSIVE CONCRETE SLAB WORKING TOGETHER, THEY MANAGED TO HEAVE THE WEIGHT OF THE MAN OR HEAVED THE WEIGHT OFF THE MAN AND STABILIZED HIM FOR EXTRICATION.
AS CREWS CLEAR A PATH, THEIR ACTIONS THAT DAY WERE THE DEFINITION OF SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
BY CRAWLING INTO THE DANGEROUS SPACE, LIEUTENANT CLAUS AND FIREFIGHTER CAMPBELL GAVE AN AUSTINITE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.
WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR THEM TODAY FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE AND PROFESSIONALISM UNDER PRESSURE FOR THEIR KEY ROLE IN THE RESCUE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
LIEUTENANT JUSTIN CLAUS AND FIREFIGHTER REGGIE CAMPBELL ARE AWARDED THE MEDAL OF VALOR.
YOU GUYS CAN, YOU GUYS CAN HANG OUT FOR A SECOND.
DURING THE INCIDENT, BATTALION CHIEF DAVE HEATON, SHOCKING BATTALION CHIEF JAMES CROWER AND CAPTAIN DJ WALKER ARE RECOGNIZED WITH MERITORIOUS SERVICE FOR THIS SAME CALL IN THEIR SUPPORT IN RESCUE OPERATIONS.
THE FOLLOWING UNITS ARE ISSUED A UNIT CITATION, BATTALION TWO, BATTALION THREE, BATTALION SIX, ENGINE 25, ENGINE 31, ENGINE 33, QUINT 44, AND RESCUE 31 BATTALION TWO, DAVE HEATON BATTALION THREE.
LIEUTENANT COREY KEL, FIRE SPECIALIST JOSEPH GREEN FIREFIGHTER AIRING IRVING, FIREFIGHTER RASHAD MONTGOMERY ENGINE 31 C.
FIREFIGHTER CHRISTOPHER GANGI.
FIREFIGHTER GIDEON CRUZI FIREFIGHTER SETH QUINLAN.
JUSTIN KLAUS, LIEUTENANT JASON NOLE.
CAPTAIN JOHN ALEXANDER, FIRE SPECIALIST KYLE CULVER.
CAPTAIN SEAN CUMMINGS, FIRE SPECIALIST.
FIREFIGHTER MACE RAKE STRAW FIREFIGHTER.
MICHAEL S SORENSON RESCUE 31 C CAPTAIN MATTHEW MC, MCLARNEY MCLARNEY.
STREL FIREFIGHTER DEREK WILKINSON.
I'M GONNA START DELETING YOUR AWARD SUBMISSIONS FOR YOURSELF.
I PICK ON DAVE BECAUSE HE'S AT EVERY FIREARM KNOT, WHICH HASN'T BEEN MANY BECAUSE I CAN'T BUY A FIRE THESE DAYS.
FRANKLY, AT ABOUT 3:00 AM ON JULY 5TH, 2025, THE CREWS OF ENGINE 28 AND RESCUE 28 WERE CALLED INTO THE HEART OF A LIFE-THREATENING FLOOD.
THE SANDY CREEK AREA HAD TRANSFORMED INTO A LANDSCAPE OF FAST MOVING WATER.
ROADS HAD BEEN WASHED OUT AND TRADITIONAL ACCESS POINTS CUT OFF FORCING RESPONDERS TO FACE A CHOICE, WAIT FOR CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE OR ACT IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE LIVES.
THEY CHOSE TO ACT WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF SAFETY SPOTTERS OR A CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT LAY BENEATH THE SURFACE.
THE TEAMS CUT THROUGH FENCE AND LAUNCHED BOAT 28 WITH FIREFIGHTER BARTON RODRIGUEZ DIRECTING THE COURSE AND FIRE SPECIALISTS.
AARON GILBERT STEERING THE BOAT INTO THE TORRENT.
THEY PULLED ONE PERSON FROM A SUBMERGED POLE, ANOTHER TRAPPED AGAINST A FENCE BY THE FORCE OF THE CURRENT.
AS THE SCOPE OF THE DISASTER CAME MORE CLEARLY INTO VIEW, THE CREW OF RESCUE 28 TOOK CHARGE OF A MASSIVE SEARCH AREA COORDINATING MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO ENSURE NO ONE WAS LEFT BEHIND.
BY THE END OF THE OPERATION, 25 PEOPLE HAD BEEN RESCUED, MANY OF WHOM WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THEIR OWN COLLAPSING
[01:00:01]
HOMES.EVEN AFTER THESE EXHAUSTING RESCUES, THE TEAM PUSHED ON.
THEY THEY CLEARED FALLEN TREES AND CUT THROUGH GUARDRAILS TO REACH A SECONDARY EMERGENCY SITE WHERE THEY ASSISTED IN SEARCHING FOR A MISSING FELLOW RESPONDER.
TODAY WE HONOR ENGINE 28 AND RESCUE 28 FOR THEIR QUICK THINKING AND SELFLESS BRAVERY THAT TURNED A NIGHT OF POTENTIAL TRAGEDY INTO A STORY OF SURVIVAL FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF HEROISM.
FIRE SPECIALIST AARON GILBERT AND FIREFIGHTER MARTIN RODRIGUEZ ARE AWARDED THE MEDAL OF VALOR.
CAPTAIN GREG WYANT IS RECOGNIZED WITH A MAR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD.
AND FOR THEIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE OPERATION.
THE CREWS OF ENGINE 28 AND RESCUE 28 ARE GIVEN UNIT CITATIONS.
ENGINE 28, A CREW, FIRE SPECIALIST, AARON GILBERT, FIREFIGHTER JASON BTI, FIRE SPECIALIST KYLE RAMAGE, FIREFIGHTER MARTIN RODRIGUEZ, RESCUE 28 CREW CAPTAIN GREG WYATT, FIRE SPECIALIST KYLE HORS.
FIREFIGHTER AARON ESCOBIDO, SCOOBY FIREFIGHTER JOSLYN.
IT IS AN HONOR TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT AWARDS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR PEERS, THE CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR, UNIFORMED STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR, FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, AND FIRE OFFICER OF THE YEAR ARE AWARDED TO PERSONNEL WHOSE EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE STANDS OUT AMONG THEIR RESPECTIVE RANK AND POSITION HER NOT AT ALL,
NO, SHE'S WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR.
IT IS AN HONOR TO PRESENT STACEY FLICK AS A CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR FOR HER ESSENTIAL AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORK WITHIN THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SINCE JOINING THE REIMBURSEMENT TEAM, STACEY HAS DISTINGUISHED HERSELF THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM AND A RELENTLESS DRIVE TO IMPROVE OUR OPERATION.
SHE DIDN'T JUST FOCUS ON THE PAPERWORK.
SHE PRIORITIZED BUILDING TRUST AND STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH KEY PARTNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ACROSS OUR DEPARTMENT.
STACEY'S COMMITMENT TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS LED, LED HER TO JOIN THE INCIDENT SUPPORT TEAM ON A SEVEN DAY DEPLOYMENT LAST YEAR.
THIS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE GAVE HER THE INSIGHT NEEDED TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL INSUFFICIENCIES IN OUR WORKFLOW, STACEY TOOK THE LEAD IN IMPLEMENTING NEW STANDARDS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY STREAMLINED OPERATIONS, ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT TO FILE REIMBURSEMENTS EARLIER AND WITH GREATER ACCURACY.
THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
BEFORE STACEY'S INVOLVEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT FACED FREQUENT FLAGS FROM STATE PARTNERS FOR LATE SUBMISSIONS SINCE SHE JOINED THE TEAM THAT A SINGLE REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED LATE.
IN FACT, SHE CHALLENGED THE DEPARTMENT TO DO BETTER, WHICH RESULTED IN
[01:05:01]
REDUCING OUR FILING WINDOW FROM 90 DAYS TO 45 DAYS.AND THIS FISCAL YEAR ALONE, STACEY PERSONALLY MANAGED MORE THAN HALF OF OUR TOTAL DEPLOYMENT REIMBURSEMENTS, ENSURING EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
HER INITIATIVE, COLLABORATION, AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE HER AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HER TODAY.
LIKE, WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY?
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
STACEY UNIFORM STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE LIEUTENANT NATHAN CHILDRESS, A LEADER WHOSE WORK ETHIC AND INTEGRITY HAVE BECOME THE GOLD STANDARD FOR OUR SPECIAL EVENTS SECTION.
NATE CONSISTENTLY TAKES ON MORE THAN IS ASK OF HIM, DRIVEN BY A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN UNDER THE HIGHEST PRESSURE HE BRINGS A POSITIVE CAN-DO ATTITUDE THAT LIFTS THE MORALE OF EVERYONE AROUND HIM.
WHAT TRULY SETS NATE APART IS HI.
HIS ABILITY TO BALANCE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WHILE REMAINING UNWAVERING IN HIS ENFORCEMENT OF THE FIRE CODE, HE GUIDES ORGANIZERS THROUGH COMPLEX SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WITH REMARKABLE PATIENTS, ENSURING THAT WHILE HE NEVER BUDGES ON SAFETY, EVERY PERSON FEELS RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED.
FOR NATE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SERVICE ARE NOT OPPOSING GOALS, BUT COMPLIMENTARY ONES.
NATE IS ALSO A NATURAL MENTOR WHO LEADS BY EXAMPLE RATHER THAN EGO.
HE IS ALWAYS THE FIRST TO OFFER HIS TIME TO TRAIN OTHERS.
TEACHING THEM NOT JUST THE PROCEDURES, BUT THE DEEPER IMPORTANCE OF WHY OUR WORK MATTERS AND HOW CONSISTENCY BUILDS PUBLIC TRUST.
EVEN WITH AN EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY WORKLOAD, HE REMAINS APPROACHABLE AND INVESTED IN THE SUCCESS OF HIS COLLEAGUES.
LIEUTENANT CHILDRESS DEMONSTRATES EVERY DAY THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS A POSTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE.
BY CHOOSING THE RIGHT WAY OVER THE EASY WAY AND ALWAYS STRIVING FOR IMPROVEMENT, HE HAS STRENGTHENED OUR DEPARTMENT'S REPUTATION AND SHOWN US THE VERY BEST OF WHAT A PERFECT ER PUBLIC SERVANT CAN BE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING LIEUTENANT NATE CHILDRESS, UNIFORM STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR.
FIRE SPECIALIST WILL MAOR AS FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, WILL CONSISTENTLY SETS THE BENCHMARK FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PROFESSIONAL IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
SERVING AS A MODEL OF DEDICATION AND CONSISTENCY IN EVERY ROLE HE TAKES ON HIS IMPACT IS FELT FAR BEYOND HIS DAILY ASSIGNMENTS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE PEER SUPPORT TEAM WILL PROVIDES A STEADY AND COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE FOR HIS COLLEAGUES, OFFERING GUIDANCE AND STABILITY DURING DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE ALSO INVESTS HEAVILY IN THE FUTURE OF THE FIRE SERVICE BY TEACHING AT THE FIRE ACADEMY, ENSURING OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS START THEIR CAREERS WITH THE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND CORE VALUES NEEDED TO SUCCEED.
WHETHER IN THE FIELD, THE CLASSROOM, OR SUPPORTING A COWORKER IN NEED WILL PUT THE TEAM FIRST AND REFLECTS THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SERVICE.
IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID THAT EVERY STATION IN THIS DEPARTMENT NEEDS A WILL MALODOR.
AND TODAY WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR THE LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY HE BRINGS TO US ALL.
THE YEAR FIRE SPECIALIST WILL MALODOR.
THIS NEXT ONE'S GONNA SHOCK YOU.
IT IS, UH, A SURPRISE AND AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE BATTALION CHIEF DAVID HEATON AS OUR FIRE OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
WHILE CHIEF HEATON HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, HIS PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
HE IS A LEADER WHO ACCEPTS EVERY CHALLENGE WITHOUT HESITATION, TAKING FULL OWNERSHIP OF EVERY TASK AND SEEING IT THROUGH
[01:10:01]
WITH ABSOLUTE EXCELLENCE.CHIEF HEATON'S INFLUENCE CAN BE FELT ACROSS NEARLY EVERY MAJOR DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTAL INITIATIVE FROM LEADING WORK GROUPS ON STAFFING AND AWARDS TO SERVING AS A LEAD INSTRUCTOR FOR OUR COMMAND OF CLASSES.
HE CONSISTENTLY LENDS HIS EXPERTISE TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT BETTER.
HE IS THE PROFESSIONAL THAT OTHERS LOOK TO WHEN A CRITICAL PROJECT NEEDS A STEADY HAND IN A CLEAR VISION.
PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, CHIEF EATON HAS STEPPED UP DURING A MAJOR PERIOD OF TRANSITION FOR A SHIFT BY SERVING AS THE ACTING SHIFT COMMANDER, HE HAS ENSURED THAT OPERATIONS REMAIN SEAMLESS AND MORALE STAY HIGH.
HE HAS TAKEN ON THESE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES WILLINGLY DRIVEN BY DEEP CARE FOR HIS TEAM, AND A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT NOTHING IS OVERLOOKED.
HIS DEPENDABILITY HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF HIS SHIFT SUCCESS.
WHETHER MENTORING, ACTING OFFICERS OR MANAGING THE COMPLEXES COMPLEXITIES OF A BATTALION CHIEF HEATON EMBODIES THE HIGHEST VALUES OF PROFESSIONALISM AND LEADERSHIP.
HE IS A TRULY DESERVING RECIPIENT OF THIS HONOR, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THIS DEPARTMENT.
FIRE OFFICER OF THE YEAR, BATTALION CHIEF DAVE HEATON.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S MANY PEOPLE THAT WORK HARDER THAN HIM.
UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT LEADER BUDDY.
SHORTLY AFTER SHIFT CHANGE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, THE OFFICIAL CALL TO DEPLOY TO GROUND ZERO CAME IN.
10 MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED WITHIN HOURS THEY ASSEMBLED IN COLLEGE STATION TO AWAIT PERMISSION TO FLY INTO WHAT WAS THEN A CLOSED NATIONAL AIRSPACE.
ONCE GRANTED, THE TEAM ABORTED A NEW YORK BOUND MILITARY CARGO PLANE FLANKED WITH FIGHTER JETS.
SOON THE AUSTIN FIRE CREW JOINED 61 OTHERS TO BEGIN SEARCHING FOR VICTIMS AIDED, AIDED BY CRANES THAT WERE REMOVING STEEL BEAMS PIECE BY PIECE TO CREATE ACCESS POINTS.
AFTER 15 DAYS OF WORKING DAY AND NIGHT, THE AUSTIN FIRE PERSONNEL RETURNED TO TEXAS ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, CARRYING WITH THEM THE INDELIBLE WEIGHT OF THE EXPERIENCE AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEERED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITY IN A TIME OF NATIONAL CRISIS TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY EACH CONTRIBUTED SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE REPRESENTING AUSTIN FIRE ON A NATIONAL STAGE.
TODAY WE HONOR THEM BY PRESENTING EACH WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
PLEASE ASSEMBLE UP HERE AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED, RETIRED ENGINEER RALPH CASTILLO, RETIRED DIVISION CHIEF DON CLAPTON, RETIRED LIEUTENANT CHRIS DERELL, RETIRED BATTALION CHIEF.
DAVID FIERRO, RETIRED CAPTAIN MARK HERE, RETIRED FIREFIGHTER ROGER HOLTZ.
LAUREN MAHER, POSTUM FOR RETIRED BATTALION CHIEF TRAVIS MAHER, BATTALION CHIEF EDDIE MARTINEZ.
TRACY TRA VINO POSTUM FOR RETIRED FIREFIGHTER.
ALEX TREVINO, RETIRED BATTALION CHIEF WARREN WILD.
ADDITIONALLY FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT INJURY SUSTAINED DURING THAT HISTORIC DEPLOYMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING LASTING PERSONAL COSTS.
RETIRED CAPTAIN MARK HERE AND BATTALION CHIEF EDDIE MARTINEZ HAVE ALSO BEEN AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.
AND YELLOW RELATIVE TO THIS ONE.
I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF HOLD THESE AND HANDLE TO 'EM.
[01:15:05]
BATTALION CHIEF TRAVIS MAHER AND FIREFIGHTER ALEX TREVINO, WHO SERVICE AT GROUND ZERO ULTIMATELY COST THEM THEIR LIVES ANSWERED THEIR NATION'S CALL WITHOUT HESITATION STANDING AMID DANGER SO THAT OTHERS MAY MIGHT HAVE HOPE.IT IS WITH THE DEEPEST RESPECT AND GRATITUDE THAT WE NOW PRESENT THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO LAUREN AND TRACY FOR THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES WHOSE STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND ENDURING LOVE HAVE CARRIED THEIR LEGACY FORWARD WITH GRACE.
THE CREW BEFORE YOU WORKED WITH PRECISION, ENDURANCE, AND COMPASSION TO COMB THROUGH THE DEVASTATION AT GROUND ZERO.
EMBODYING THE VERY BEST OF OUR PROFESSION AND OUR HUMANITY TO THEM, WE EXTEND OUR HELP FELT.
I AM GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT GETTING TOO CHOKED UP, SO BEAR WITH ME.
UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF OUR PROFESSION.
EDDIE MARTINEZ IS ONE OF THE MOST GENUINE PEOPLE I KNOW.
THROUGHOUT EVERY RANK HE HAS HELD, HE HAS REMAINED A STEADY MENTOR, A TRUSTED PEER, AND A LOYAL FRIEND.
HIS LEADERSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT RECOGNITION OR POSITION.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT SERVICE, DEVELOPING OTHERS, AND LEAVING THE ORGANIZATION STRONGER THAN HE FOUND IT.
EDDIE'S IMPACT ON THE FIRE SERVICE SPANS DECADES, AND IT BEGINS EARLY IN HIS CAREER.
AS A FIREFIGHTER, EDDIE DEMONSTRATED A PASSION FOR INSTRUCTION AND TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE.
WELL BEFORE IT WAS EXPECTED OR REQUIRED.
HE ASSISTED WITH IN-HOUSE HAZMAT AND ROPE RESCUE TRAINING FOR A FD LONG BEFORE THE CREATION OF RESET.
EVEN THEN, EDDIE UNDERSTOOD THAT PREPAREDNESS SAVE LIVES, AND THAT TRAINING IS A RESPONSIBILITY, NOT A CHECKBOX.
THAT MINDSET SET THE TONE FOR EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWED.
AS A LIEUTENANT EDDIE BECAME A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND AFDS TECHNICAL RESCUE CAPABILITIES.
HE ASSISTED WITH THE SETUP AND PURCHASE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST PARATECH STRUCTURE, COLLAPSE EQUIPMENT, AND THE ACQUISITION OF THE STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE TRAILER.
HE HELPED CREATE THE STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE COURSE, ESTABLISH THE RESCUE SWIMMER PROGRAM, AND CREATED THE SWIFT WATER AND STILL WATER BOAT TASK.
HE ALSO ASSISTED WITH HOSTING THE URBAN SHIELD EXERCISE HERE IN AUSTIN.
SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE SWIFT WATER COMMITTEE AND SERVED ON THE STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE COMMITTEE.
THESE EFFORTS DRAMATICALLY ADVANCE AFDS RESCUE READINESS AND STRENGTHEN INTER-AGENCY COORDINATIONS ACROSS THE REGION.
WHEN EDDIE PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN, HIS INFLUENCE EXPANDED BEYOND TECHNICAL SKILL AND INTO CULTURE, LEADERSHIP, DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY.
HE HELPED START THE TRADITION OF EACH CADET CLASS, CREATING A GUIDE ON A SYMBOL OF PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP.
HE ASSISTED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE DEEDS, NOT WORDS MOTTO, REMINDING FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ACTIONS MATTER MORE THAN TITLES.
HE HELPED SHIFT CADET DISCIPLINE FROM A RIGID THREE FAILURE MODEL TO A PATTERN OF PERFORMANCE APPROACH, EMPHASIZING GROWTH, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
EDDIE ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE DRY KEEP TRAINING PROGRAM, HELPED CREATE THE FIRE GROUND OFFICER COURSE AND SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR SHAPING GENERATIONS OF OFFICERS THROUGH BOTH CURRICULUM AND EXAMPLE.
AS A BATTALION CHIEF EDDIE CONTINUED TO INFLUENCE THE DEPARTMENT AT A BROADER LEVEL.
HE SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE OPERATIONS AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE, WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMAND TECH COMMITTEE AND POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE HELPED CREATE THE ATTACK ACTIVE ATTACK WORK GROUP AND WORKED ON THE BATTALION CHIEF ROTATION WORK GROUP.
THROUGH ALL OF THIS, HE NEVER STEPPED AWAY FROM TEACHING AS CON.
CONTINUING AS AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE FIRE GROUND OFFICER COURSE AND REINFORCING THAT LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING GO HAND IN HAND AT THE, AT THE DIVISION CHIEF LEVEL.
EDDIE'S IMPACT HAS BEEN BOTH STRATEGIC AND VISIONARY.
HE PRESENTED THE THREE PHASE COMMAND TECH PILOT PROGRAM, PROPOSE AN ALTERNATE PIO PROGRAM AND ASSISTED WITH THE HELMET CAM AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS. MODERNIZING HOW A FD COMMUNICATES, OPERATES AND SERVES THE PUBLIC.
HE SERVED ON THE DEPARTMENT REALIGNMENT COMMITTEE.
THE ONE HOUR WORK WORK REDUCTION WORK GROUP CHAIRED THE ADDED TIME WORK GROUP AND ONCE AGAIN, CONTINUED INSTRUCTING THE FIRE, FIRE GROUND OFFICER COURSE EVEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, EDDIE NEVER LOST SIGHT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN PEOPLE
[01:20:01]
BEYOND A FD.EDDIE'S COMMITMENT TO SERVICE HAS EXTENDED NATIONALLY THROUGH TEXAS A AND M TASK FORCE ONE WHERE HE SERVED CONTINUALLY SINCE 1999.
HIS ROLE INCLUDE HAZMAT SPECIALISTS, RESCUE SPECIALISTS, RESCUE SQUAD OFFICER, RESCUE SQUAD OFFICER, RESCUE TEAM MANAGER, TASK FORCE LEADER, DIVISION GROUP SUPERVISOR.
HIS DEPLOYMENTS INCLUDE SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND CHALLENGING EVENTS OF OUR TIME.
SEPTEMBER 11 IN NEW YORK, HURRICANE KATRINA, THE BASTROP WILDFIRES, THE CITY OF WEST EXPLOSION, THE WIMBERLEY AND KERRVILLE FLOODS AND COUNTLESS HURRICANE, TORNADO AND FLOOD RESPONSES.
MOST RECENTLY, EDDIE SERVED ON THE STATE'S FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IN INVESTIGATIVE TEAM FOR THE LINE OF DUTY, DEATH OF THE HOUSTON FIREFIGHTER MARCELO GARCIA ON DECEMBER 24TH, 2024, OFFERING HIS EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMPASSION DURING AN INCREDIBLE, DIFFICULT AND MEANINGFUL INVESTIGATION.
BUT AS IMPRESSIVE AS EDDIE MARTINEZ RESUME IS, IT IS NOT WHAT DEFINES HIM.
WHAT DEFINES EDDIE IS HIS CHARACTER.
HE'S A MENTOR WHO GIVES TIME FREELY A PEER WHO COUNSEL IS TRUSTED AND A LEADER WHOSE HUMILITY NEVER, NEVER WAVES.
HE LEADS WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD.
EDDIE'S LEGACY IS NOT FOUND ONLY IN PROGRAMS, COMMITTEES, OR DEPLOYMENTS.
IT LIVES ON IN THE FIREFIGHTERS AND OFFICERS.
HE HAS SHAPED THE CULTURE HE HELPED BUILD AND THE COUNTLESS LIVES MADE SAFER BECAUSE OF HIS QUIET, CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP FOR HIS DEC DECADES OF SELFLESS SERVICE, PROFOUND LEADERSHIP AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE SERVICE AS A WHOLE.
BATTALION CHIEF EDDIE MARTINEZ IS DEEPLY AND UNQUESTIONABLY DESERVING OF THIS CAREER SERVICE AWARD.
CONGRATULATIONS, EDDIE MARTINEZ.
AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS CEREMONY, I WANNA CHALLENGE SOMEONE FOR TWO MINUTES.
EVERYONE SAY TWO MINUTES FOR THE PRESIDENT OF LOCAL 9 75 TO COME UP HERE AND CLOSE US OUT.
WELL, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THE IMPROMPTU OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT COMES WITH SOME RISK GIVEN MY, UM, WELL-ESTABLISHED REPUTATION FOR BEING LONG-WINDED.
BUT, AND THEN, UH, NOT TO PILE ON TO CHIEF HEATON, BUT IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ACCOLADES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, UH, HE WAS RECENTLY ALSO ELECTED AS, UH, ONE OF OUR VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE A FA.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS, UH, CAPACITY CEILING IS, BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA, UH, TRY TO REACH IT HERE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS HE SERVES IN THESE DUAL LEADERSHIP ROLES.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THE AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION HAS HAD THE BENEFIT OF A REMARKABLE LEADER IN BOB NICKS AND BOB REPRESENTED AND ADVOCATED FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS WITH UNPRECEDENTED JUST PASSION, CONVICTION, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
AND WHILE IT'S, IT'S A TALL TASK TO FOLLOW HIM, I'M HUMBLED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF DO SO.
UH, I TOO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE NOT ONLY THE AWARD WINNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, BUT ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
AND FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES I WAS PRIVILEGED TO WORK SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THEM.
AND SO I'M PERSONALLY FAMILIAR WITH THEIR DAILY SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
AND SO, UH, FOR THAT, I, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE FIRE CHIEF, WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, WITH OUR CITY LEADERS AND OTHERS, AND JUST ENSURING THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE SAFE, SUPPORTED AND WELL-RESOURCED SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS WITH COMPASSION AND EXCELLENCE.
IF I COULD ALSO JUST RECOGNIZE
[01:25:01]
TWO MINUTES.SO I RECLAIM CLAIM MY TIME
BUT, UH, SO ALSO JUST KIND OF WANNA RECOGNIZE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SPOKE TO WAS JUST PARTNERING WITH OUR CITY LEADERS AND OTHERS BECAUSE IT REALLY TAKES A COMMUNITY AND THERE'S SO MANY INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO, UM, MAKING OUR DEPARTMENT GREAT AND ALLOWING US THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND SO, SOME OTHERS THAT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE AS THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, HEB, WHO I'M, I'M PERSONALLY APPRECIATIVE OF 'CAUSE THEIR, THEY'RE SERVICED AT THE STATION LEVEL.
SO HEB, ALLY MEDICAL, BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC, JACKSON WALKER, THREE POINT PARTNERS, AND TO COVAS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT, THAT TURNED OUT.
UH, I'M, I'M IT, IT'S SO AMAZING TO SEE Y'ALL THERE AND FAMILIES.
UM, AS WE CLOSE OUT, PLEASE GRAB FOOD, GRAB DRINKS.
UM, THERE WAS TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES EARLY, BUT WE GOT THEM FIXED, SO, UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA PLAY, EXPECT Y'ALL TO STAY AROUND, UH, AS THE PLAYING OF THE VIDEOS, BUT IF YOU WANNA WATCH THE VIDEOS, THEY'RE GONNA PLAY 'EM IN SUCCESSION.
BUT Y'ALL HAVE AN AMAZING DAY AND, UH, TGIF.