By Andy Sevilla

About a dozen Kyle firefighters assembled last week to build a ramp for a homeowner in need.

The Kyle Professional Fire Fighters Association (KPFFA) built a ramp for a resident in the Aztec Village homes who has mobility issues and had difficulty getting in and out of his residence.

“The association has been trying to be more active with the community,” KPFFA Vice President Alex Barrera said. “We all like being a part of the community, that’s kind of how we all got involved in fire service. We just want to give back to our residents, and our community and to the people we serve.”

Barrera said the ramp-building project is the association’s first community project outside of fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — a volunteer driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers. 

“We’re here, we’re part of the community, so if they ever need us we’re here for them,” Barrera said. “I think that with a small city like we are, it’s important to have that strong community relationship. It’s good for us and it’s good for the public, as well.”

Barrera said they took on the project after running multiple calls for service at that home. He said that’s how the association learned of the need for a ramp at the residence. 

“We just decided to be more active and get out there more with the public and help out a little bit more with people that need it.”

Barrera said Home Depot donated the materials needed to build the ramp and KPFFA members brought their tools and put in the labor. Although the association is comprised of paid firefighters, Barrera said volunteer firefighters at the Kyle Fire Department also came out to help.

Barrera said watching KPFFA members and volunteer firefighters help a resident in need is a great thing.

“Growing up as a kid, the fire department in my area was well involved with the community and that’s kind of what inspired me to become a firefighter as well,” he said.