Firefighter Recalls Most Dangerous, Rewarding Calls

Steve LaDue is completing his 27th year as a Hillsborough County firefighter. He has six years of service at Station 20 in New Tampa, having served at stations 7 and 18 before that. He moved to Tampa when he was 8 years old and later attended Leto High School.

Prior to joining the fire department, LaDue was a performer at Ski World in Orlando. He recalls a friend Pete, who was the nurse at Ski World, as being an early influence on becoming a firefighter. LaDue had known firefighters in Tampa and said he had always thought, "what a great job." One day he visited a fire station in Orlando, and he was hooked.

Patch: Describe your most harrowing experience on the job.

LaDue: We got a call in the College Hill area back in '87 or '88. We responded with Rescue Team 4. That area was really rough back then, a lot of dead ends and seedy street corners. We were responding to fire, to shootings. During that call for some reason, the people were throwing rocks and bottles at us. After that, we had to answer calls only with a Tampa Police unit. It was an accumulation of a lot of those dangerous calls that really stressed us out.

Patch: What was your most rewarding experience on the job?

LaDue: It actually was when I was off duty. My son and I went to Cocoa Beach for some surfing. The waves were extremely rough due to an Atlantic Hurricane and I decided to try them out while my son stayed on shore.

(Editor's note: To finish the story, we turn to an excerpt from an awards committe nomination written by Captain Brian Mintzer about the event that took place September 9, 2010.)

"As he started to shore, he heard a voice calling. As he turned and looked back, he saw a man in the surf calling for help. Steve began calling to shore for more help. Steve started after the man only to discover his son and daughter also struggling in the waves. Steve reached the boy just as he could no longer keep his head above water and pulled him onto the surfboard. Steve then maneuvered his board over to where the man was struggling and helped him onto the board, while still holding the man's son. By then, two other surfers had come out to assist and they were able to save the man's daughter. Because of Steve LaDue's courage, bravery and determination those three people are alive today."

"It still chokes me up to this day," added LaDue.

Patch: What do you do to decompress after a long shift?

LaDue: I don't take it home. I'm like the captain, I don't take my work home or my home to work.

Patch: What do you enjoy about working in New Tampa?

LaDue: The run load is less here. You do get tired toward the end of your career — tired of all the calls. You get a little more tired physically and mentally.

Patch: If you weren't working as a firefighter, what do you think you would be doing?

LaDue: I'd have joined the Coast Guard. I had a buddy that I went to a recruiter with. I would have done that if firefighting was not an option.