December 2011 Winner

Frank Windust

Fort Wainwright Fire Department
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

The most recent recipient of Hale's Safe Firefighter of the Month award is Lt. Frank Windust of the Fort Wainwright Fire Department in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Lt. Windust has been a firefighter for the past 14 years, serving and protecting the citizens of the largest military base in Alaska.

One of the reasons Lt. Windust takes his job so seriously is because many of the citizens in Fort Wainwright are experiencing separation from their spouses for the first time. Their partners are deployed overseas to fight terrorism and protect our country, and he wants to do his part to keep the community safe on the homefront..

Lt. Windust has made it his priority to educate citizens about fire safety and prevention. He educates community residents about the value of sprinkler systems, and he has stepped up to make sure that all new construction buildings and homes in Fort Wainwright are equipped with alarms and sprinklers. The department also visits local schools to educate students about safety and fire prevention.

With the personal purchase of an on-board video camera, Lt Windust captures on-the-job incident responses and uses the footage to further educate his peers on response procedures and apparatus safety.

In his spare time, Lt. Windust continues his own education, participating in FEMA training classes. He also encourages his fellow firefighters to join in daily trips to the gym for health and fitness routines.

When asked what he believes is vital to keeping firefighters safe, Lt. Windust said, "Listen to your superiors and take their advice because they know from experience. Follow directions and all safety precautions. The rules are in place for good reason."