Today we’d like to introduce you to Derrick Curtis
Hi Derrick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine Texas, I joined the volunteer fire department in October of 2004 to give back to Alpine and Brewster county.
After three years I moved back to the Hill Country for student teaching, and joined the Burnet Volunteer Fire Department. Move forward a couple of years to 2012 I joined the Cassie Volunteer Fire Department where I’m at today as the full time Fire Chief, I also serve as the Fire Marshal and Head of Department for Burnet County Emergency Services District No. 9/ Spicewood Fire Rescue.
In my firefighting career I have also spent time with Marble Falls Fire Rescue and with Boeing Fire Department at the Port of San Antonio, where I served as a Captain.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In Texas roughly 70% of firefighters are volunteer, but those numbers are dwindling daily as it’s harder and harder for volunteer fire departments and other volunteer organizations to find people to volunteer.
Volunteer fire departments will always need the help, they can find something for everyone to do. For example the Cassie Volunteer Fire Department age range is 24-75, we find something for everyone to do.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For being apart of the Fire Service for the better part of almost 20 years. My volunteers and myself not only give back to our communities we live in but we give back to our county and surrounding communities in time of need. We can spend 20 minutes on a routine medical call to
Multiple hours on a house or even days on a wildfire. Volunteer firefighters and EMS responders are leave their jobs, or families to go and help people in need at all hours of the day.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Just a normal kid playing sports and living on the lake.
My interest were sport medicine in high school, and track and field.
Video games were and still is a interest of mine.
