Abbeville fireman wins state award

There are around 13,000 firefighters in Louisiana.
Firefighter 1st Class David Landry of the Abbeville Fire Department has been voted the best among them.
The Louisiana State Fireman’s Association recently named Landry as Firefighter of the Year. The announcement came during a banquet on Aug. 13 in Baton Rouge.
“I was shocked when I heard my name,” Landry said. “It’s a very good feeling. This is voted by your peers, so that makes it even better.”
Landry, 32, would have left the banquet perfectly happy having heard someone else’s name called.
“I was honored just to be nominated,” Landry said. “I am going to continue doing what I was doing prior to winning this award.”
Landry, a native of Hackberry who lives in the North Vermilion area, has been with the Abbeville Fire Department for 12 years. He also serves as a member of the Maurice Volunteer Fire Department and is a trainer for the LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute. His career has been built on one motivation.
“I wanted to help out the community,” Landry said. “It’s the pride of putting on the uniform and knowing you are helping someone in need.”
While Landry is surprised that he brought home the award, Abbeville Fire Chief Jude Mire is not the least bit shocked.
“He is well deserving of this,” Mire said. “We are very proud of him. He is very knowledgeable for a firefighter his age. Anything I ask him do to, he does. He takes command. He’s a highly regarded instructor for LSU. That is such a benefit for this department.
“He’s top-notch.”
Awards or not, Landry is going to continue to work hard to remain at that level.
“I am going to give my best as long as I can,” Landry said. “I am enjoying every minute of it.”