The role of a fire department is reactive in nature. Full time personnel are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to whatever the emergency might be. The Inspection Department of the Mountain Home Fire Department however, has a pro-active response. The department’s duty lies in enforcement and fire prevention and is equally important. Oftentimes a fire inspector can prevent a fire before it occurs, saving lives in the process.
In an effort to show appreciation to all local firefighters, KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot are profiling Mountain Home Fire Department Inspection Department head Captain Gary Pyszka, one of the many fine examples of a dedicated public servant in the Twin Lakes Area.
Pyszka was born and raised in Peru, Illinois where he worked as a volunteer firefighter. He came to the Mountain Home area in 1997 to be closer to his wife’s family who retired here. He began working at Bass Cat, but still had the desire to be a part of public service and to fulfill his need to give back to the community. It didn’t take long before he found a volunteer position at the Mountain Home Fire Department in September of 1997.
According to Mountain Home Fire Chief Ken Williams, Pyszka was promoted to full-time status and received numerous training certifications including swift water rescue, trench rescue, rope rescue, pump/driver operator and rapid intervention team. Williams says it soon became apparent Pyszka had a passion for teaching others, something Pyszka says he’s proud of.
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When talking about educating kids Pyzska is enthusiastic.
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The Inspection Department spends several days a year with children teaching them lifesaving skills in the Fire Safety House. They are taught to stop, drop and roll, crawl low under the smoke and the importance of fire drills and smoke alarms.
When asked why he decided to become a firefighter Pyszka says the answer is simple.
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When asked what else he’d like to say, for Pyzska it has nothing to do with him, but about the service he holds dear.
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Our Salute to Service program, sponsored by Century 21 LeMac Realty; Baxter County Abstract & Title; Kent P. Nachtigal, MD General & Vascular Surgery; ServPro; The Church; Danny Porter of Century 21 LeMac Realty; and KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot is proud to honor Captain Gary Pyszka, head of the Inspection Department of the Mountain Home Fire Department and all firefighters for their service, dedication and contributions to our community.
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