Hometown Hero: Lt. Randy Arnold – Comanche Volunteer Fire Department

By DAVID SWEARINGEN
TheFlashToday.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Residents of Erath County are very fortunate to have many men and women who make living here safe, many of whom are volunteers. They are Hometown Heroes! These people keep us safe and we owe them our thanks and our respect. THANK YOU!

ERATH COUNTY (April 25, 2017) – The Flash Today is proud to honor this week’s Hometown Hero – Lt. Randy Arnold. Arnold, was born in Dublin, lives in Comanche and currently works for TechnipFMC in Stephenville. He is a volunteer firefighter for the Comanche Volunteer Fire Department.

Arnold was born in Dublin on August 20, 1987. This was, of course, back when Dublin had a hospital. Arnold has three sisters: Megan, Majesta and Kesha. He grew up in Comanche, where he graduated from Comanche High School in 2005 and still lives today. Arnold has worked as a volunteer firefighter for Comanche Volunteer Fire Department since October 2005 and received his firefighting training at the Fire Academy in Cleburne, where he graduated in 2006. He has continued his training at the Comanche Department once a month as well as online training.

Lieutenant Arnold recently completed his “Instructor 1” training so he can train and teach others. He said he has actually been training others for quite some time now, but now with this training completed, he can sign-off on the trainees completed courses himself rather than having to get one of his department superiors to sign off on the training for him.

Arnold said he chose this vocation after receiving encouragement from a friend.

He has been married to Christina Arnold since August 2013. They have two children: Olivia (age 6) and Cade (age 3). Arnold has worked on the day-shift at TechnipFMC for 6 years and said in his Comanche Firefighter job he is always on call. He also spends time helping with the mowing at the department as well as equipment maintenance and cleaning.

Arnold said his favorite part about his job is that he often gets to tear stuff up (sheetrock, walls, ceilings, etc.) and the people even thank him for it. He spends his free time with his family, fishing and helping to coach his daughter’s softball team.

Like so many others in his department and the entire community, Arnold said he is very excited about an upcoming fundraising event in Comanche – the 3rd Annual Halligans and Handcuffs.

This is a charity softball game between the Comanche Volunteer Fire Department and the Comanche County Law Enforcement usually draws a large crowd and is a big fundraiser for the Comanche Youth Council or CYC. He said this game has helped to forge a special bond between the two departments and brought them closer together.

The game, Battle of the Badges 2017, will be held at the Comanche Fields beginning with live entertainment provided by Danny Bingham, Joe Williams, and Tim Turnbeaugh at 2 p.m. and the softball game to follow at 3 p.m. There will also be a special appearance by Smokey the Bear and a concession stand open. Texas Rangers tickets, donated by Durham-Ellis Pecan, will be raffled at the event as well.