FCFRD News Blog : #MeetFCFRD: Captain Sean Evans

Press release from the FCFRD News Blog:

August 31, 2021

Captain Sean Evans is currently assigned to Fire Station 18, Jefferson, A-Shift. This born and raised Fairfax County resident has served as a firefighter with the department for over 27 years.

Growing up, Captain Evans did not consider a career in the fire service. He had no family members who served in the fire and rescue service. While attending high school at Lake Braddock in Burke, several of Captain Evans’ friends were junior members at the Burke Volunteer Fire Department. They encourage him to join them – which he eventually did. Out of that was born a passion for the fire service, and a desire to eventually make it a career.

Captain Evans was hired by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in January of 1994. He was a member of Recruit Class 85. His first assignment out of recruit school was Station 18, which at the time, housed Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1). Captain Evans quickly attained technical rescue team certification and became a member of the team. His first promotion was to Technician in ’98 and took him to the station where it all began – Fire Station 14, Burke. Captain Evans promoted through the ranks to his current position, which he earned in 2010.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, then Technician Evans had just gotten off work and was home with his nine-month-old daughter as his wife was at work. He was watching on television as the horror of the day began to unfold. VA-TF1 was activated so a close-by family member came by to care for his daughter.

The team arrived at the Pentagon sometime between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. that afternoon and worked through the night. VA-TF1, along with other teams, were on scene for seven days and worked the night shift. One thing Captain Evans remembers vividly is the patriotism felt by all that day. He is also proud to have had the opportunity to help on such a critical day for our country and make a difference – especially helping to bring closure to the families of those that perished.

Throughout his career, Captain Evans has always kept in fairly good shape. While working out in March of 2021, he felt tingling in his fingers. In the back of his head, he knew something was not right and immediately scheduled a doctor’s appointment. One appointment led to another and within a few weeks, Captain Evans learned he had a 98% blockage of the left anterior descending artery. A full blockage results in a heart attack that is commonly referred to as the “widow maker”.

If Captain Evans had ignored the signs, and his gut feeling, he likely would have been dead within six months. His advice to fellow firefighters is to pay attention to your health and trust you gut!

Captain Evans and his wife are now empty nesters as their son and daughter are attending college.

Have you wondered what it would be like to #JoinTeamFCFRD? Contact our recruiters at fire.recruitment@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 246-3939 to learn more about a career.

This press release was produced by the FCFRD News Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.