When I was in the third grade, my mom got remarried to my dad, Wes Anders. Most of my life, I have been a Fireman's kid. Growing up, my fire family was a big part of becoming who I am today. Today, my dad is a Fire Chief of a department in Ball, La. He has been in the fire service most of his life too. He is a second generation fireman. My Grandpa served the same Texas department my Dad started with. In 1992 He is one of my biggest inspirations today and one of my heroes.
When my parents married, Dad was a second assistant chief at the local fire department in Wellington, Texas. We spent so much of our free time at the local station in town. All the kids of the department loved playing on the trucks and pretending we were firefighters and saving people’s lives. We always got to help the department help with MDA’s Fill the Boot. On the morning of Fill the Boot, we would get up super early, go to the fire station, and eat breakfast with all the firefighter and their kids. Then all the kids would load up in a fire truck and we would get to ride to school. My little brother even got to dress in his gear and collect from the teachers at the school. This was one of my favorite memories of the fire family growing up.
Once in Texas my dad's department had a huge grass fire. Over a million acres of the Texas Panhandle burnt that time. We didn’t see my dad at all for almost a week solid. When he wasn’t out fighting that fire or taking turns sleeping in the brush truck, he was at the station guarding our town against the wildfire creeping our way.
After we moved, my dad started a junior fire department to give the local teens an outlet to serve the community. All five of us were on the junior department when it started up. My three older sisters, once they aged out of the program, went on to become volunteer firefighters as well.
Dad is now the Chief of the department in Ball, Louisiana. His focus these days is building this department back up basically from square one. If anyone can do it, he's the guy! He loves to teach fire fighting to the next generation as well as teaching the "Old Salty" guys a new thing or two.
"When you stop learning, you stop growing", Dad says and he is right. Did I mention he has been an instructor for LSU FETI for a few years now, too? Always learning.
Being in a fire family isn’t all fun and games. There are the late night calls, missed dinners and holidays and worrying when the tones drop.
The fire life is a lot more than fighting fires. That’s a big part of it, but it's also about your fellow brothers and sisters that are fighting the fire or working the bad calls with you. It’s about being there for them. It’s about the bonds you make with them. It’s about having a second family. Many a time one of my Dad's "brothers" has come to our house when we needed help because they know my Dad would be there in a heartbeat for them and their family.
Growing up, my fire family was a big part of becoming who I am today. I love my dad for teaching me to serve others and for always showing me the best example. He is one of my biggest inspirations today and my hero. I love you, Dad!
