Valdez makes Strides as new Fire Chief
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Post Volunteer Firemen at a CPR class instructed by Rodney Tidwell on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Photo Courtesy of Post Volunteer Fire Department)
On Jan. 1, Jimmy Valdez became the new fire chief of the Post Volunteer Fire Department.
Working as a volunteer to keep the city from having to hire a full-time fire chief, Valdez said he took the position to “keep the taxpayers’ money down.”
In the short time he has had this new role, Valdez has actively made strides to keep the fire station and the equipment up to date.
Furthermore, he is helping the other volunteer firefighters get training skills and certification through classes so they can do more and stay committed to the department. In fact, Valdez has already helped the volunteer fire fighters to get CPR certified as well as attend other certification classes that will allow them to better serve the community.
Valdez encourages people to come out and see the facilities and the new trucks. All the work done to keep the fire station operational is done by volunteers. Even the trucks’ maintenance is done in house.
Since Valdez has stepped in, plenty of changes have been made. The board is now made up of new members and individuals have been given different positions.
The application process has changed as well. Each application is voted on before it is approved, and the applicant must go through a 60-day trial period before they can become a volunteer for the department. He has also implemented a weekend rotation shift.
Valdez said that he is currently looking for volunteers to take the day shift during the week. Because the Department is run solely by volunteers, many of the members have daytime jobs making it difficult to fill all the needed shifts.
“I encourage people to sit in on meetings and see what we are doing,” Valdez said.
In order to support the fire department even further, Valdez urges everyone in the community to come out to the Post Volunteer Fire Department’s 25th Annual Chili Supper.
A large sum of funds the department uses are from this chili supper. In fact, all proceeds from the supper will go directly back to the fire department where they can be used for equipment and other needs the volunteers experience.
The Chili Supper will be held on Feb. 15 at the Post Fire Station located at 202 S. Ave. H and will last from 6 p.m. until all the chili is gone.
