Meet A Community Member: Captain Troy Lipp

In a new feature on North Potomac-Darnestown and Potomac Patch, we will introduce you to a new community member each month. These people will be in high profile positions within our areas, including educators, volunteers, public officials, etc.

This week, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's Station 31 commander Captain Troy Lipp introduces himself and answers five questions.

 

Patch: Why did you become a firefighter and what was your personal drive to do so?

Captain Lipp: I come from a long line of firefighters. My grandfather was a volunteer firefighter; my father is a volunteer firefighter. My brother and I grew up around the firehouse and we both joined as volunteers at the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department as soon as we were old enough. Eventually, my brother and I became career firefighters.

I attended Virginia Tech, and the University of Maryland, and was hired while I was studying fire engineering there. That was 24 years ago, and I haven't looked back. As to my drive to do it, how do you explain the sheer satisfaction you get out of helping people in crisis? You have to experience it to believe what it can do to you. My father and grandfather exposed me and my brother to it from such a young age; we really never considered any other tack. I just was fortunate enough to turn something that I love to do into a career.

Patch: What does your job entail?

Captain Lipp: I am the captain and station commander of Fire Station 31 in Quince Orchard. I am also a paramedic and have been a member of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force since its inception. I have been deployed to many national disasters (such as Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11 at the Pentagon and Hurricane Katrina) as part of that team. What does it entail? A LOT of training and continuing education. We have to keep up on everything from structural engineering, to fire trends, to constantly changing medical protocols.  It’s a full day. 

Patch: What does a typical shift look like?

Captain Lipp: I work a 24-hour shift, like most career firefighters in Montgomery County. We work for one shift and then we are off for two days.  The shift starts at 7 a.m., which means we need to be there by 6 a.m. In addition to running emergency calls, we spend the day training, performing public education sessions, and maintaining our station, apparatus and equipment. Station 31 runs about 3,000 emergency calls in a year - but the pace can be hectic at times due to the multiple roles that the personnel assigned here fulfill. Station 31 is the headquarters for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team as well as a component of the county’s Special Operations Technical Rescue Team. We specialize in handling the most challenging rescue scenarios across the entire county as well as assisting neighboring jurisdictions.

That means a lot of extra training and additional tools and equipment that we must maintain. The people on our shift at the firehouse are like a second family to us.  We spend a lot of time with each other, working, living in close quarters, eating meals together, and, at times, trusting each other with our lives. Our bonds are very tight. 

Patch: What is the strangest or scariest incident you've been called to?

Captain Lipp: One of the most amazing aspects of my job is that every day at work can present a new scenario or situation that I have never seen before.  Sometimes I am challenged, and other times I am amazed at the crazy things that happen in people’s lives. The incidents that affect me the most are often the ones that involve children. I responded to the Oklahoma City bombing and I will never forget the first child's body I pulled from the rubble. My son was around the same age at the time. It left its mark on me.

*Patch's Special Holiday Bonus Question: As holiday's approach, what is one piece of fire safety advice you would give to area residents?

Captain Lipp: I would urge everyone to take a few moments to prepare their family for emergencies.  As cliché as it sounds, it really is important, and life saving, to check the smoke detector and make sure it has fresh batteries.  Make sure that their children know what to do when the smoke detectors sound.  Make lists of emergency phone numbers – not just 911 – that the children can use (family, friends, and neighbors). 

Set up contingency plans and make sure everyone knows what to do and where to meet in the case of an emergency. Realize that in a major disaster, one of the very first things that will stop functioning will be cell phones as families try to make contact with loved ones. The time to put those plans in place is now, before they are needed. One of the best ways to prepare children for the unexpected is to play a game of "what if" at the table or in the car.  It can be fun, but more importantly, prepare everyone to be thinking along the same lines. Sometimes the ideas kids can present during a game of 'what if" are amazing and insightful. All of that aside, most of all, I would encourage everyone to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season with their loved ones.