A Gaston County firefighter is receiving national honors for his work helping to fight fires in developing nations.
Robert Heussy started his Fireman’s Faith Ministry in 2014 after a month-long mission trip in Nicaragua opened his eyes to the terrible equipment their first responders rely on in emergencies. They had the same passion as Heussy, a Union Road Fire Department captain who has been fighting fires for more than a decade, but their gear posed a significant risk to their safety and health.
“Those guys down there might fight fires with just pants or just a bunker coat or just a coat and helmet,” he said. “Their trucks might be (1970) models, ’80 models. Some may be older than that. And those are their first-line trucks.”
Heussy went to work starting his non-profit, then collecting used gear to take to a country since decimated further by human rights issues and political unrest. He’s collected hundreds of sets of turnout gear since, and an apparel company took notice.
ServiceWear Apparel recently named Heussy its Workwear MVP. Out of dozens of submissions from fire agencies across the country, his story stuck out most.