Age 24
Resident of FM 1486 between Dobbin and Magnolia for entire life.
Graduated from Montgomery High School in 2002.
Currently a student at West Texas A&M University, majoring in Emergency Management Administration.
Began volunteering with Montgomery Fire Department in October of 2001.
Completed EMT – Basic at North Harris College in August of 2002.
Completed Basic Fire Academy at College of the Mainland in December of 2002.
Started as full time Firefighter at Montgomery Fire Department in January of 2003.
Promoted to Captain in June of 2003 at Montgomery Fire Department.
Obtained THSHS EMT Intermediate in June of 2005.
Obtained TCFP Intermediate Instructor in February of 2006.
Obtained TCFP Field Examiner in September of 2006.
Started as part time Firefighter at Magnolia Fire Department in October of 2006.
Obtained TCFP Fire Officer I in January of 2007.
Obtained TCFP Intermediate Firefighter in February of 2007.
Promoted to District Chief in September of 2007 at Magnolia Fire Department.
Various other rescue, incident command, and inspection certifications.
Became engaged to Lindsay Jones in December of 2007.





Q. What was your inspiration for joining the fire service?
A. I had always been interested in the fire service throughout school. At the beginning of my senior year, I decided to try volunteering, with the encouragement of a couple classmates/members. I actually joined after the events of 9/11, but I had already made the decision to join prior to the events. After only a few months, I decided the fire service would be my career choice and have not looked back since.


Q. What are your ultimate goals in the fire service?
A. My ultimate goals are to obtain a degree in Emergency Management Administration and become a Public Administrator (fire chief, emergency management coordinator, etc.) In the meantime, I want to gather as much knowledge and experience as possible and pass on as much of that as possible.


Q. If you could change one thing in your past career what would it be?
A. I believe that things happen for a reason, therefore, I would not want change any of my employment decisions. The one thing I would have done different is go back to college sooner. I encourage all new fire school graduates to immediately continue their education to at least the level of an associate's degree.


Q. The paid/volunteer firefighters debate seems to be controversial across the US. What are your feelings about volunteer depts vs combined depts vs paid only departments?
A. I started my career as a volunteer and believe that, without that experience, I might not be here today. I feel that there is a place for volunteers in the fire service. Unfortunately, in today's society people often lack the will or time to give back to the community by way of volunteering. The transition from volunteer to combination to paid only is sometimes rocky. I think it takes strong leadership to make this happen smoothly. Some volunteers have trouble with the fact that they are “being replaced” by paid firefighters. From my experience it seems that paid firefighters that started as volunteers mesh better with current volunteers. They seem to have a better understanding and see things from the volunteer's point of view. Firefighters, that have always been paid, sometimes just do not quite understand. At some point there comes a time when an organization cannot provide the level of service that a community demands without changes to the organizational layout. The fire service has also become a very technical and specialized field of work, and the training required to maintain your level of competency can be extremely time consuming.


Q. What was your two most memorable events, good and bad, that has occurred to you in your career?
A. My most memorable moments would have to be the promotions I have received at both the Montgomery and Magnolia Fire Departments. Another career based memorable event was the tragic loss of a good friend. I had just arrived to work for an overtime shift on the evening of December 20, 2004. There were reports that a Baytown Firefighter had just been killed while battling a house fire. They did not have a name but knew the firefighter was new to the department and had just joined the HAZMAT team. This description fit Nito Guajardo. Nito and I attended fire school together and were members of the same “company”. I was the Captain of the company, and he and I performed all drills as a team. We knew exactly what to expect from each other. I had visited him just weeks prior to his passing. He was extremely excited about employment at Baytown, and was next planning on starting a family. His departure made me take a second look at everything going on around me.


Q. If you won the lottery, what single piece of equipment would you donate to MFD?
A. I would donate a component to the training facility.


Q. In many areas across the US and even in Texas firefighters do not act as first responders. How would you change this? Require FFs to be first responders? Not allow FFs to be first responders? Apply restrictions to responding only to certain incidents?
A. I feel that the TCFP requiring firefighters to hold an EMS certification is a good thing. I am also a supporter of organizational first responding. BLS first response is a move in the right direction, but I believe that ALS first response is where we need to end up. Populations in many areas are outgrowing the resources available, and firefighters are often in a better position to make a rapid response than EMS providers. For instance, there are approximately 15-20 medic units in Montgomery County on a daily basis, and there are approximately 30-35 fire stations staffed. The fire service has transitioned from only firefighters to firefighter EMTs. The next transition, which has already begun in many places, is to the firefighter paramedic.


Q. In some departments, such as Houston, the EMS is staffed by firefighters. Do you think this is appropriate or not? Why? A. I think this is very appropriate, but only if it is used in the proper fashion. I believe that more than enough people should have the proper training to staff the medic units. This in turn would allow for rotation on a regular basis and avoid burn out. Having members of the same organization providing first response and transport service provides a better continuation of care. It also allows you to provide ALS first response.



"As I begin my 8th year in the fire service, I look back at all of the knowledge and experience I have gained. I feel that if I am able to learn as much in the next eight as I did the last, then I will have built a solid foundation for the rest of my career. The fire service is an ever changing society, and it takes dedication and effort to keep you in a position to provide quality service to any given community."



Rusty Griffith is a full time firefighter and captain of the C shift.