Thunder Roads LA Magazine September 2017 Thunder Roads September | Page 8

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Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana | September 2017 | www.thunderroadslouisiana.com
Cover Story
By: Renee
When we were asked to do a cover honoring our
first responders here in Louisiana, out of all of the
hundreds of awesome stations we could of chose
from, we let our Photographer choose which one
to photograph. Clarke remembered going here as a
kid, so he took the lead, and did an outstanding job.
Afterwards, we all sat down in the kitchen at the
Marrero E stelle Volunteer Fire Dept, and it struck me
that I was sitting in the presence of heroes. These
guys were so down to earth, and when I called
them heroes, they were so humbled, and a little
bit embarrassed. I guess they just do their job and
don’t think of themselves that way. I for one am very
touched after hearing each of them share stories with
me. From Kevin Coleman, President, and 1st Assistant
Chief sharing his rescued kitty story in Belle Chasse,
to the story of finding something, well let’s just say, a
little “intimate” hanging on a light bulb at a so called
“burning” building.
They shared some of the things the average every
day citizen may not know. Like the fact that they have
only 2 minutes to be in the truck and gone when the
alarm goes off. Or that they work 24 hours on and
48 Hours off, and that combined the guys at this fire
house have over 130 years of experience in fire and
rescue. Also their gear with tools, (airpack) per man,
is around 60 pounds, and if they have to drag a hose
with them through flights of stairs, without water, in
the hose, the weight is 75lbs.
They are constantly training and each firefighter
that goes into a burning building has in excess of 216
annual training hours!
Before I introduce you to this great group of heroes,
we would like to thank each of you first responders
and firefighters around the country for your sacrifice,
and a special THANK YOU, to all of them who were at
Ground Zero on September 11, 2001.
Thank you to Chasidy, our beautiful cover model for
participating. She said she always wanted to put on a
fire suit!
A BIG THANK YOU to Mel McEvoy –retired Fire
Captain for riding out in 110 heat index under a hot
sun, to showcase your 1999 Road King tribute bike.
The artwork is by Johnny Gaude on this bike and the
Goldleaf paint is by Gold Rush Signs.
FEATURED: Kevin Coleman-President/1st Assistant
Chief, Shawn Francis 2nd Assistant Chief /Treasurer,
Chris Thompson Vice President/Firefighter, C.J.Reed
EMT/Firefighter/EMS Instructor, Travis Everage EMT/
Firefighter, Thomas Palisi Operator/Firefighter, Tom
Gray Captain/Operator/Firefighter, Don Simoneaux
Operator/Firefighter
www.thunderroadslouisiana.com | September 2017 | Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana
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