Odessa Fire Rescue Chief John Alvarez welcomed seven new hires to the department on Friday afternoon.
The new hires included 23-year-old Odessan Tanner Henry, 20-year-old Odessan Dafnay Betances, 31-year-old Odessan Raul Mendoza, Megan Smith, 20, of Lubbock, 19-year-old Odessan Julian Benavides, Ben Gilbert, 22, of Forney and 29-year-old Quentin Bellows of Refugio.
Benavides is the first hire that is scheduled to go on shift. He starts Sunday, while the others will either start on Monday or Wednesday.
Alvarez said it’s important for new hires to gain experience every time on the job.
“They’ve been through the fire academy and they got the basic foundation of what’s required of you to be a firefighter, but they don’t have the experience,” Alvarez said. “That’s our job. We want to make sure they are ready to perform where we need them to perform. With time, the experience comes and that’s how you grow in this department.”
Benavides said he’s a little nervous but he’s more excited.
The 2020 Odessa High School graduate is also honored to be a first responder in the town that he grew up in.
“I’m doing my part to give back to the community,” Benavides said. “It’s a very wholesome feeling to be able to give back to the community that you grew up in. This place is home. This is the only place that I’ve known and being able to help people out is a great feeling.”
Betances, who is also a 2020 Odessa High School graduate, is eager to begin her shift on Monday.
“We have the basic knowledge to get us though and we have a lot to learn,” Betances said. “I’m very excited to learn and get to know my crew and people on my shift.”
During the oilfield’s most recent decline, Bellows felt it was the perfect opportunity to join the fire department. The 29-year-old said he hasn’t regretted the decision. He will start his first shift on Wednesday.
“I was kind of hesitant at first but I really fell in love with it once I got through the fire academy,” Bellows said. “I knew after fire academy that this was for me.”
For two new hires, Smith and Henry, the fire department isn’t a strange place to them.
Smith’s father, Brent Smith, works as a fire inspector and investigator for the Lubbock Fire Rescue, while Henry’s brother, Tyler, is a fire captain and has been with OFR since 2008.
“It was very special, because I get to follow in his footsteps,” Smith said about her father pinning on her badge.
Henry added: “My brother is one of the main reasons why I decided to join. He told me how cool it was. He told me to come and give it a shot and here I am.”
