St. John Firefighters Association Local 4784

10/01/2026

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THE MOMENT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR… THE OVIDE CHENIER III LEGACY RAFFLE WINNERS!

The drawing is complete, and the winners have officially been selected! Check out the video below to see who won!

We can’t say THANK YOU enough to everyone who helped make this raffle possible. Whether you donated a prize, bought tickets, shared the raffle, helped spread the word, or supported us along the way, we truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Your generosity and support mean more than you know and helped make the Ovide Chenier III Legacy Raffle a success.

Congratulations to all of our winners, and thank you again to everyone who participated and supported the raffle!

09/24/2026

One week left!

If you have yet to buy some tickets, hurry up and buy some!

If you already have bought tickets, buy some more!

THE OVIDE CHENIER III LEGACY RAFFLE

A few weeks ago, our department lost more than a firefighter. We lost a brother, a friend, a mentor, and one of the good ones.

Now we have an opportunity to come together and do something for the person who meant the most to him — his daughter.

St. John Local 4784 is proud to announce The Ovide Chenier III Legacy Raffle, with 100% of our efforts focused on raising money to help support Ovide’s daughter and honor the legacy he left behind.

Tickets are $20 each, and every ticket gives you a chance at SEVEN separate prizes! Each item will have its own drawing, so there are seven chances to win.

The prizes are incredible, but this raffle is about something much bigger than what you can win.

It’s about taking care of one of our own.

Ovide spent his career showing up for others. He helped the new guy. He taught without being asked. He did the little things around the station that nobody noticed. He was the kind of firefighter and friend who earned your respect simply by the way he carried himself.

Now it’s our turn to show up for him.

Drawing: October 1, 2026
Tickets: $20 each
Tickets are available through members of St. John Local 4784.

You DO NOT need to be present to win.

Please help us spread the word. Buy a ticket. Buy a few. Share this post. Every ticket sold helps us honor Ovide and provide something meaningful for the daughter he loved so much.

We can't fill the void he left behind, but we can make sure his family knows his fire department family hasn't forgotten them.

This is for Oppie. This is for his daughter. This is his legacy.

Thank you to everyone who has donated prizes, bought tickets, shared the raffle, or helped make this possible. Your support means more than you know.

Rest easy, brother. We've got it from here.

09/11/2026

25 YEARS — WE WILL NEVER FORGET

Twenty-five years ago today, our nation watched unimaginable tragedy unfold.

On September 11, 2001, thousands of people went to work, boarded airplanes, reported for duty, and began their day never knowing it would be their last.

When the call came, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and countless others ran toward the devastation.

343 FDNY firefighters never came home.

They climbed those stairs carrying the weight of their gear and the responsibility of their oath, passing thousands of people making their way to safety.

They knew people needed them.

So they kept climbing.

For those of us in the fire service, “Never Forget” is more than a phrase. It is a responsibility.

We remember the 2,977 lives taken that day. We remember the 343 members of the FDNY who made the ultimate sacrifice. We remember the families who lost loved ones, and we remember the first responders who have continued to suffer and die from illnesses caused by their work at Ground Zero.

Twenty-five years have passed, but their sacrifice has not faded.

Every time we step onto an apparatus, put on our gear, and answer the call, we carry forward the same commitment to service demonstrated on that September morning.

Today, the members of IAFF Local 4784 honor those who came before us.

May we always remember their courage.
May we always honor their sacrifice.
May we always take care of the brothers and sisters beside us.

343 Forever.

September 11, 2001 — Never Forget.

09/08/2026

Firefighter Survival Training

Firefighters train for the situations we hope never happen.

This month Members are conducting firefighter survival training focused on water emergencies while wearing full structural firefighting gear and SCBA. Crews practiced what to do if a firefighter unexpectedly falls into a body of water while operating on an emergency scene.

The training focused on remaining calm, controlling body position, using the natural buoyancy of our PPE, conserving energy, and safely maneuvering toward an exit or assistance.

A firefighter entering the water in full gear can quickly find themselves in an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous situation. Practicing these skills in a controlled environment gives our members the opportunity to understand how their gear behaves in the water and, more importantly, how to react when seconds matter.

We train for the unexpected so we're prepared when the unexpected happens.

Strong work by everyone who participated and helped make this training possible.

08/28/2026

10 years have passed, but somehow it still feels like yesterday.

Time moves forward, but the memories, lessons, and impact you left behind never fade. Your legacy continues to live on through the people whose lives you touched and the example you set for all of us.

Today, we remember. We honor. And we continue to carry forward the values you taught us.

Always Remember. Never Forget. Carry On “The Spencer Way”

10 years gone, but never forgotten.

In Memoriam: August 28, 2016 - LODD
District Chief Spencer Chauvin, 36
St. John Fire District. Laplace, LA
While working at the scene of a single vehicle accident on Westbound Interstate 10, District Fire Chief Spencer J. Chauvin was struck and killed by a charter bus that crashed into the accident scene. A passenger in a vehicle at the scene was also killed and many others were injured including two firefighters who received non-life threatening injuries in the incident.
Firefighters, State Police troopers and ordinary citizens selflessly climbed over a guardrail, down 30 feet into alligator-infested canal waters to rescue three St. John the Baptist Parish firefighters thrown from an Interstate 10 bridge in LaPlace after they were hit by a charter bus. District Chief Spencer Chauvin was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at a local hospital, according to Trooper Melissa Matey, spokeswoman for the State Police. Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, of Honduras, the bus driver accused of plowing into the firefighters, had no driver's license and entered the country illegally, Matey said.

08/23/2026

NEVER FORGET — 9/11 MEMORIAL STAIR CLIMB

On 8/22/26 members of St. John Local 4784 had the honor of participating in the New Orleans 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

They climbed in remembrance of the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.

Each step represents more than a physical challenge. It is an opportunity to honor the courage, sacrifice, and selflessness of those who climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center that morning — knowing others were trying to get out while they were going in.

For those of us in the fire service, September 11th will always mean something different. Many of us never knew the firefighters whose names and photographs we carry during these climbs, but they are still our brothers and sisters.

We remember their sacrifice.
We honor their families.
We carry their names.
And we make sure the next generation never forgets.

Local 4784 is proud of our members who represented St. John today and honored the fallen the best way firefighters know how — together.

343. Never forgotten.

#343

08/18/2026

Don't forget the raffle is still on it's way!!

Tickets are selling fast! Don't miss out on your opportunity to help raise money for a great family while having an opportunity to win some great prizes!

THE OVIDE CHENIER III LEGACY RAFFLE

A few weeks ago, our department lost more than a firefighter. We lost a brother, a friend, a mentor, and one of the good ones.

Now we have an opportunity to come together and do something for the person who meant the most to him — his daughter.

St. John Local 4784 is proud to announce The Ovide Chenier III Legacy Raffle, with 100% of our efforts focused on raising money to help support Ovide’s daughter and honor the legacy he left behind.

Tickets are $20 each, and every ticket gives you a chance at SEVEN separate prizes! Each item will have its own drawing, so there are seven chances to win.

The prizes are incredible, but this raffle is about something much bigger than what you can win.

It’s about taking care of one of our own.

Ovide spent his career showing up for others. He helped the new guy. He taught without being asked. He did the little things around the station that nobody noticed. He was the kind of firefighter and friend who earned your respect simply by the way he carried himself.

Now it’s our turn to show up for him.

Drawing: October 1, 2026
Tickets: $20 each
Tickets are available through members of St. John Local 4784.

You DO NOT need to be present to win.

Please help us spread the word. Buy a ticket. Buy a few. Share this post. Every ticket sold helps us honor Ovide and provide something meaningful for the daughter he loved so much.

We can't fill the void he left behind, but we can make sure his family knows his fire department family hasn't forgotten them.

This is for Oppie. This is for his daughter. This is his legacy.

Thank you to everyone who has donated prizes, bought tickets, shared the raffle, or helped make this possible. Your support means more than you know.

Rest easy, brother. We've got it from here.

08/16/2026

B Shift spent some time this month conducting a rope rescue drill, working through patient packaging, rigging, and lowering operations from an elevated position.

Technical rescue incidents are low-frequency, high-risk events, which makes hands-on training like this extremely important. These skills require teamwork, communication, attention to detail, and repetition so that when the real call comes in, our crews are prepared to operate safely and efficiently.

Great work by B Shift putting in the time, working together, and sharpening skills that we hope we never have to use—but need to be ready for when someone is counting on us.

Train hard. Stay prepared. Be ready.

08/13/2026

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shown their support, compassion, and kindness during and after this incredibly difficult time for our department. The calls, messages, prayers, presence, and support from our community, fellow departments, agencies, friends, and families have meant more to us than words can express.

We are honored to share this special tribute video created by Captain Ashton Joseph of our department. Captain Joseph collected photographs from numerous individuals and agencies to bring together the moments and memories represented in this video.

To everyone who contributed photographs and helped make this tribute possible, thank you. Every picture tells a part of the story, and together they have created a meaningful tribute that we will always cherish.

A very special thank you to Captain Ashton Joseph for taking the time and putting so much care into bringing everything together. Your effort has given our department, our families, and our community something truly special to remember and reflect upon. We can’t thank you enough.

During difficult times we are reminded just how strong the fire service family and our community truly are.

From all of us, thank you for standing beside us when we needed it most.

08/10/2026

THE OVIDE CHENIER III LEGACY RAFFLE

A few weeks ago, our department lost more than a firefighter. We lost a brother, a friend, a mentor, and one of the good ones.

Now we have an opportunity to come together and do something for the person who meant the most to him — his daughter.

St. John Local 4784 is proud to announce The Ovide Chenier III Legacy Raffle, with 100% of our efforts focused on raising money to help support Ovide’s daughter and honor the legacy he left behind.

Tickets are $20 each, and every ticket gives you a chance at SEVEN separate prizes! Each item will have its own drawing, so there are seven chances to win.

The prizes are incredible, but this raffle is about something much bigger than what you can win.

It’s about taking care of one of our own.

Ovide spent his career showing up for others. He helped the new guy. He taught without being asked. He did the little things around the station that nobody noticed. He was the kind of firefighter and friend who earned your respect simply by the way he carried himself.

Now it’s our turn to show up for him.

Drawing: October 1, 2026
Tickets: $20 each
Tickets are available through members of St. John Local 4784.

You DO NOT need to be present to win.

Please help us spread the word. Buy a ticket. Buy a few. Share this post. Every ticket sold helps us honor Ovide and provide something meaningful for the daughter he loved so much.

We can't fill the void he left behind, but we can make sure his family knows his fire department family hasn't forgotten them.

This is for Oppie. This is for his daughter. This is his legacy.

Thank you to everyone who has donated prizes, bought tickets, shared the raffle, or helped make this possible. Your support means more than you know.

Rest easy, brother. We've got it from here.