05/21/2026
RIP Lt. Kelly. Please consider donating to the meal train below for the Kelly family if you are able to.
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/v6d9m8?fbclid=IwVERDUAR8Z-dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeOKsBPBbNQpYNHGkUBmf21r7oE_WEkZw_PkwrEbVg4HXjaxESvGmFowfktkA_aem_iKweyzuWkirYdHr9Iz5CPg
Honoring a Life of Service, Courage, and Sacrifice.
Harold Kelly, a nearly 20-year veteran of the Austin Fire Department and a cherished member of our fire family.
Harold dedicated his life to serving this city and the people around him. Even while facing an unimaginable battle with ALS, he continued to show the same courage, strength, and heart that defined his fire service career. From his first symptoms in 2024 to seeking treatment in Canada earlier this year, Harold fought with everything he had.
Over the past several days, many firefighters had the opportunity to sit beside Harold, share stories, laugh, reflect, and remind him just how much he meant to all of us. He remained surrounded by the love of his family, friends, and his firefighter family until the very end.
Lieutenant Kelly leaves behind his wife, Melanie, and his sons, Colton and Christian. Our hearts are with them as they navigate this unimaginable loss.
Haroldโs impact on this department will not be forgotten. His dedication to the job, his strength during adversity, and the bond he shared with his crews in Prevention and Battalion 2 will continue to live on through all of us.
Please keep the Kelly family, Haroldโs friends, and all those who loved him in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Rest easy, brother. Weโll take it from here.
05/04/2026
May the 4th be with you AND itโs International Firefighters Day! โค๏ธ๐โค๏ธ
๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ
๐ฐ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐.
The long shifts.
The holidays celebrated on different days.
The empty seat at the table that everyone learns to work around.
๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌโ
those who walk into the station knowing
theyโll miss moments they canโt get back,
and go anyway.
You show up when itโs hard,
when itโs inconvenient,
when it costs you time with the people you love most.
And stillโ
you choose to serve.
Not for recognition.
Not for applause.
But because someone, somewhere, will need you.
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐.
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ.
And to the families who hold it all together at homeโ
this calling is yours, too.
๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.
๐๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ.
๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ.
๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐
๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌโ ๐๐๐ฒ!
โค๏ธโค๏ธ
04/28/2026
๐จ Weโre Back On for ZOOM TONIGHT! ๐จ
The wait is over! Since we had to reschedule, weโve had some extra time to dial in the details for our upcoming projects, and we have a lot of exciting ground to cover.
Whether youโre a regular, haven't been able to make it in a while, or just want to pop in to say "HI," weโd love to have you there. Grab your favorite coffee, find a cozy spot, and feel free to invite a friend!
What to expect:
Fresh Updates: Get the latest scoop on our upcoming events and community projects.
Real Connection: Nothing beats the support and camaraderie of our auxiliary crew.
Your Voice Matters: Weโre making big moves this season, and your ideas are the secret ingredient we need.
Comment "ZOOM LINK" below to get the meeting details! See you all on screen tonight! ๐โจ
04/24/2026
A huge win for one of our Austin Firefighters!
Austin firefighters are excited to share a huge win for Lt. Suzanne LaFollette. Today, a state workersโ comp judge ruled in Suzanneโs favor, affirming that her cancer is occupational.
Thanks to your support and our broad firefighter/community coalition to , this strong decision recognizes the risks firefighters face every single day and underscores the urgent need to strengthen and expand Texasโ presumptive cancer protections. All firefighters, including women with reproductive cancers, must be clearly covered when they develop cancers scientifically linked to their service as professional firefighters.
Weโre hopeful the City will not appeal and will work with Austin firefighters toward a future where no firefighter has to fight cancer and workersโ comp at the same time.
04/11/2026
We stand with Suzanne โค๏ธโ๐ฅ๐โค๏ธโ๐ฅ
04/02/2026
Are you an experienced firefighter who is ready for a new opportunity? Get details about our summer 2026 lateral class at JoinAFD.com and apply today!