“Don’t count anything out.”

Captain Bryan Runyan, Tulsa Fire Department

Why did you become a firefighter?

Captain Bryan Runyan’s path to the fire service began on the football field. His dad was a high school football coach and Bryan used to hang out at the field during practices. Several of the high school football players became firefighters and that piqued his interest.

A family friend later sealed the deal for young Mr. Runyan. He was the chief of a nearby volunteer department and he would invite Bryan to go on some runs with the volunteer fire department.

When Bryan decided that building roller coasters was not in his future, he knew that he wanted to have a career in public service. He began volunteering as a firefighter right out of high school and soon realized that it was his calling.

Today, Captain Runyan is in his 23rd year with the Tulsa Fire Department.

What advice do you have for other firefighters?

Captain Runyan encourages others in the fire service to explore any and all opportunities they’re presented with.

“Don’t count anything out. Be willing to try new things and new techniques,” Captain Runyan remarked. “You should never avoid doing something just because you’re uncomfortable with it or you don’t think you would like it.”

What changes do you foresee in the fire service?

The biggest changes Captain Runyan sees coming down the pipeline in the fire service are apparatus technologies and firefighter mentalities.

Advancements in fire apparatuses has turned almost every manual action a digital button. This makes the firefighter’s job easier and allows them to focus on other mission-critical tasks.

Regarding the mentality of firefighter health and wellness, Captain Runyan noted, “It used to be ‘we’re firefighters and we understand the risk.’ But now the mentality is ‘let’s keep everyone safe throughout their career and once they retire.'”

This change in mentality has brought many health and wellness initiatives to the foreground in the fire service and it very well may contribute to saving and improving firefighters’ lives.

Before he became a firefighter at Tulsa Fire Department, Captain Runyan was a firefighter in Sand Springs, OK.

This was his first position as a paid full-time firefighter after his time as a volunteer firefighter. His captain at Sand Springs been a forward observer in the military and he served during the Vietnam War.

“I know that his time in the military carried lingering effects,” Captain Runyan recalled.

One day, they went to a house fire and there was ammunition popping off in the back of the house.

Runyan’s captain grabbed him by the arm and went to duck for cover. That’s when the captain realized that he was having a flashback to his time in the military and he regained his composure.

Then, Runyan and his captain immediately went in and knocked down the fire. His captain suppressed the thoughts of war, just as much as he suppressed the fire.

“That’s a story I’ll always remember,” Captain Runyan reflected. “He was willing to risk his life on the front line for his country and then come home to risk his life for his community in the fire service.”