Rick and Duane

I don't think these two guys get enough credit. I mean these two stellar guys have to maintain and repair all the 'stuff' that we attempt to destroy. We're firefighters, after all- we break things. No, we don't try and do it on purpose, but these things just happen. We have to use our tools and equipment in extreme conditions, and even though we have the best of the best, things still break.

That's where Rick and Duane come in. Our district mechanics are reliable, intuitive, creative and charismatic. They are good stewards of the taxpayers money, in that they are not wasteful. If it is possible to be repaired, rather than replaced- they will do it.

These two guys work "behind the scenes", making sure our equipment is up to snuff, and ready to use. When we roll up on an alarm and begin to restore someone's life back to normalcy, it is only because Rick and Duane have made sure our equipment is ready to do it's job.

My hat is off to them.