The Westfield Fire Department participates annually in the Texas Brotherhood Ride, which raises funds for families of Texas first responders killed in the line of duty.
This year’s ride will starts Sept. 5, from Houston to Colorado Springs, CO. The 1,000-mile ride will conclude Sept. 17 at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs.
In 2020, a staggering 111 Texas first responders died as a result of their service to the community. Those losses include 29 firefighters and 82 law enforcement officers.
The leading cause of death for first responders in 2020 was on-the-job exposure to the COVID-19 virus, which took 71 first responders. Many of the deaths happened before vaccines were available.
They included the October loss of Houston Fire Department Capt. Tommy Searcy, 45. Searcy and his twin brother, Tony, joined the department as volunteers on their 18th birthday. Both worked their way up through the ranks to become captains. Tommy Searcy was stationed at Houston Fire Station 67, at 1616 W. Little York Rd.
To learn more about the event, or to make contributions, visit www.
— By Anne Marie Kilday
