The La Crosse Fire Department named Bryon Stein, engineer and EMT, as our community’s ‘Firefighter of the Year’ Tuesday!
Stein has been with the department for 25 years; his colleagues said he’s a tremendous leader, instructor, and is always willing to step up to help. He is also a talented singer, using his voice to raise money for community causes, including ‘Operation Fire Safe’ – a fire safety music video for kids.
He said he is honored to get the award, but it was a really big surprise for him.
“They had a nice little storyline all set out and I fell right into it…” Stein said. “Next thing you know, we’re backing into the station and they said the whole thing is called off due to a family emergency. And I just kept swallowing the hook deeper and deeper.”
Usually, news travels fast around the station, but Stein said the person chosen for ‘Firefighter of The Year’ is one of its best-kept secrets.