First responder, veteran, or overall good human? It’s hard to determine exactly what category best fits Fire Chief James Longbrake. After all, he’s served his country as a member of the Air Force, he’s served his community in various EMS and firefighting roles, and he continues to make an impact every day in the lives of those he helps. And yet, he wasn’t one of those kids who grew up wanting to be a firefighter. Instead, he spent his early years studying computer science. But thanks to a chance encounter in his early twenties, his life course was altered forever.
James and his wife, Barbi, had recently bought their first home in Ponder back in the early 2000s, and his neighbor, Scott, walked over to welcome them to the neighborhood. Scott asked James if he would consider joining the local volunteer fire department, and within a few weeks, James was hooked. It wasn’t just the excitement of firefighting that appealed to James.
He recalls, “I joined because I had a desire to give back to my community. So this was an opportunity for me to do just that.”
Over his two decades as a first responder, James has served multiple communities. From his early days as a paramedic for both Justin and Ponder, to his days as the captain of Grapevine’s fire department, to now serving as Chief for Ponder’s volunteer fire department, each role has been an opportunity for James to help those around him. The biggest lesson he's learned from all of this? Perspective.
“As a first responder you see plenty of terrible things and it reminds you that there is plenty to be thankful for. I try to take that gratitude mindset and apply it personally with my family.”
Know a great first responder who should be featured? Email the Editorial Coordinator at Valerie.Merrick@CityLifestyle.com to nominate them.