Luminox: Tell us about your career in the fire service. What’s something about the job that people on the outside rarely understand?  
Alex: I started pretty young, almost out of high school. I went through my fire academy in 2004. It’s been a great journey and career up to this point; I am looking forward to what comes next. This profession always keeps you on your toes. The outside perspective will never understand the bond that is created by members on the fire department. It’s truly a second family for us.

Luminox: Can you walk us through a moment on the job that truly tested you, and what you took away from it?
Alex: We get tested on a daily basis; some days are harder than others. I always try and learn something new from each and every experience, no matter how big or small.

We had a building on fire in a small department where I first started. When I entered the building, the heat was so intense that it pushed me directly to the floor and the conditions down on the floor were not any better. I decided to exit the building to get a better look at it. When I exited the building, I found a window that was covered by heavy brush. Once I could see into the window, I saw fire from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I immediately went back inside and advised the interior crews that they had to evacuate asap. We all left the building. Within 15 seconds of evacuating, the entire floor collapsed, and everything fell into the basement, and the amount of fire and heat tripled in intensity. One of the most humbling and frightening situations I’ve ever been in.  

Luminox: You now train firefighters across the country. Can you tell us more about that? What inspired you to step into that mentorship role?
Alex: I had mentors in the fire service who did that for me; that left a lasting impression, and it’s something I always thought I owed to the job. It’s an honor to give back and pass along knowledge that passed onto me.

Luminox: When you’re training others, what core values or mindset do you try to instill above everything else?
Alex: Always be the hardest worker in the room. Remember the trust the public instills in us on a daily basis. Always have strong character and live by a moral and ethical code. 

Luminox: What does “serving your community” mean to you today compared to when you first started?
Alex: When you’re a young firefighter, sometimes you only think about yourself. As you realize what this job is all about, your focus will truly shift to helping people and being compassionate on their worst day. No matter the severity or lack of severity, always be a professional.

Luminox: “Every Second Counts” is something we talk about a lot at Luminox. How does that idea show up in real life on a call?
Alex: You rely on your training, and you fall back to the level of your training, so in a real-life situation, you better be trained and ready for any situation this job can throw at you.

Luminox: You rely on your gear every day, what does a watch need to deliver for you to trust it in high-pressure situations?
Alex: Knowing your gear is always ready to perform. Our gear is our lifeline; that’s no different than a watch. Always knowing it will work in any situation. And look cool wearing it.

Luminox: Have you ever had a moment where timing, down to the second, changed the outcome of a situation?
Alex: Yes, we recognized a dangerous situation from a building was on fire, we made the quick decision to pull all the firefighters out of the building, 5 seconds
later the entire floor collapsed. Thankfully everyone was able to evac the
building with no injuries. 

Luminox: When everything is on the line, what does “Every Second Counts” mean to you personally?
Alex: Making sure I am training and ready to perform to the best of my ability to serve and protect the citizens that are relying on us!