By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
After 21 years on the front lines, Senior Firefighter Brandon Zimmerman hung up his helmet on May 12 and bid farewell to the Hays Fire Department.
"It wasn't until the next morning that it really resonated that I was no longer part of that group. It made me realize I was part of something bigger," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman started as a volunteer with the Ellis County Fire Department before joining the Hays Fire Department full-time on May 12, 2004.
He emphasized the value of passing down experience to newer firefighters and said the most fulfilling part of the job was being there for people in their darkest moments.
"Those people, they'll remember that forever," Zimmerman said. "That's been the most rewarding is helping someone, and six months down the road, you come across them and they thank you for what you did. You can't put a price on that."
Firefighters earn the title of senior firefighter after meeting service time and certification requirements, but true seniority comes through years of experience, Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said newer firefighters look to experienced veterans for guidance and learning, which helps them better recognize and handle situations before facing them firsthand.
"It's a team effort. It's making sure you're taken care of and the person next to you is taken care of. It's a brotherhood," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said fire behavior and building construction have changed drastically over the years. Modern structures burn faster and hotter because of lightweight, petroleum-based materials.
Zimmerman said the job is constantly evolving, and no two emergencies are ever alike.
"It changes daily. You just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times," he said.
Although retired from the Hays Fire Department, Zimmerman will remain active as assistant chief in Munjor with the Ellis County Fire Department.
His new role focuses more on leadership and command than hands-on firefighting. The department primarily handles wildland fires, which behave differently from structure fires.
"It'll be nice to be able to take the knowledge I've acquired over 21 years, and put that toward working with the younger ones and directing them in the right way on the county side," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said two of his most memorable calls were the July 16, 2013, train derailment when a westbound train struck another car and derailed, and a rescue involving an individual trapped inside a grain elevator.
Zimmerman plans to spend more time with his three children and focus on expanding the family farm. He said his firefighting career took up about a third of his life.
"There's a lot that happens at home while you're away from work for a 24-hour shift," he said. "It'll be nice to be around for what's left of the kids growing up and be around my wife more."
Zimmerman originally considered the military but found the fire department the ideal path for public service after being approached by Troy Herman, then company chief in Schoenchen.
