GALVESTONFIRE.comLess than 2 months after the adoption of the paid fire department, 42 city blocks went up in flames, including 568 houses, causing $1.5 million in loss.
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Battalion Chief David Whitton joined the Galveston Fire Department on April 5, 1976. Chief Whitton has been assigned
to various duties in the fire department including being the Engineer of Ladder 2 and Engine 1. He promoted to Captain in 1986 and served at Stations 1,3,5, and 4. In 1992 Whitton was promoted to Battalion Chief.
He is retiring as the A-Shift Battalion Chief with 34 years and 5 months of service.
Battalion Chief Jens Jensen Sr. joined the Galveston Fire Department on April 16, 1975. He spent his years as a firefighter at various stations including 2 1/2 years at Station 6. Jensen was promoted to Engineer in 1978 and went to station 4 and later he went on to drive the Snorkel truck out of Central Station. In 1988 Jensen was promoted to Captain and was the captain at station7 for 9 years. Chief Jensen left the A-shift after 22 years when he was promoted to Battalion Chief in 1997. He is retiring as the Battalion Chief on the C-Shift with 35 years 3 months of service.
Captain Herbert Franklin joined the Galveston Fire Department on February 23, 1981. He spent his years as a firefighter at Central Station. He attained the rank of Engineer and in 1996 was promoted to Captain. He
served as a Safety Captain briefly then moved on Captain of Engines 1 and 2.
He is retireing a the Captain of Engine 2 on the A-Shift after 29 years and 7 months of service.
Captain Steve Jennings joined the Galveston Fire Department in October of 1978. He spent his years as a firefighter at Central Station on the Engine and the Rescue truck. He was promoted to Engineer and went to Station 4 to drive the ARFF truck for 14 years.
He was promoted to Captain in 1998 and served 2 years as a safety officer before moving to Station 8.
He is retiring as the Captain of Engine 8 on the A-Shift after 32 years 11 months of service.
Captain David Baker joined the Galveston Fire Department February 23, 1981. He spent his years as a firefighter at Central station and then Station 4 for a number of years on the A-Shift. He was promoted to Engineer in 1987 and was at Central Station for a while, later Stations 4 & 7. He promoted to Captain in July of 1997 and initially served as a safety officer. He spent some time at Station 5 before moving to Station 8 in 1997. He is retiring as the Captain of Engine 8 on the C-Shift
with 29 years, 8 months of service.
Engineer Charles "Butch" Edwards joined the Galveston Fire Department on April 15, 1975. He promoted to Engineer in 1978 and has served at Station 2 ever since.
He is retiring from the A-Shift with 35 years, 6 months of service
Engineer Mike Lemire joined the Galveston Fire Department in December of 1977. He was promoted to Engineer in August of 1991. He was assigned to various trucks including Ladder 3 and Engine 8. He is retiring from the C-Shift
with 33 years, 9 months of service.
Engineer Tom Boone joined the Galveston Fire Department in October of 1979. Tom was promoted to Engineer in July of 1988 and was assigned to Ladder 1 which later became Tower 1. Tom has spent his entire career at Central Station. Tom has been involved with Galveston County Firefighter's Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team since its inception and traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1995 after the Murrah building bombing to assist with CISM duties. He also traveled to College Station, Texas after the Texas A&M Bonfire collapsed in 1999 to assist. Tom retires from the C-Shift with
31 years of service.
Firefighter Johnnie Rico, Jr. joined the Galveston Fire Department on February 23, 1981. He has served at various stations including Station 7 and Central Station. He then moved to Station 2 where he has been for 26 years. He is retiring from the A-Shift with 29 years, 7 months of service.
After three decades of service to the citizens of Galveston, Fire Chief Mike Varela retired on July 16th, 2010.
During his tenure as Chief, the department realized an increase in staffing that allowed for four person Engine Companies, new positions created in the Fire Marshal's office, Thermal Imaging cameras on all units and a New Station #5.
Chief Varela lead the department through Hurricane Ike and the recovery process that followed that catastrophic event. His leadership and love for this department was very evident in his actions and he will be missed. We wish Chief Varela the best in his retirement.
Captain Randy Tauch retired on May 19th, 2010 with 22 years of service with the Galveston Fire Department.
Captain Tauch spent most of his career on B-Shift at Stations 7 & 1. His last assignment was Engine 1, B-shift.
Congrats on your retirement, Captain Tauch! Thank you for your service!
