A husky native of rural north-central Oklahoma, Halcomb marked his 18th year at the Stillwater Fire Department this July and has served as assistant chief for over two years.
Assistant Chief Brandon Halcomb grew up surrounded by community service, but his father was his closest example. "In the small town where I grew up, everybody did something to help the community," Brandon recalls. His father, a career professional, also served as a volunteer firefighter. "I guess I wanted to be part of what he did."
A husky native of rural north-central Oklahoma, Halcomb marked his 18th year at the Stillwater Fire Department this July and has served as assistant chief for over two years. He combines physical prowess with a warm sense of personal relations.
Before joining the department, he served as a volunteer firefighter for 12 years, including his college years. He studied fire protection and safety at OSU and worked in private industry doing safety training after graduation, continuing to volunteer as a firefighter.
His wife, Starla, encouraged him to pursue firefighting full-time, saying, "You're most happy when you're doing something with the fire service." Brandon agrees, "And she was right; this is what I enjoy doing."
To unwind, Brandon enjoys outdoor activities, even simple tasks like mowing the lawn. Firefighting, he notes, is a demanding career requiring both mental and physical strength. "It's hard work to get through the training. It's not something you learn once," he explains. "It's constant learning and education throughout your career." One must become knowledgeable about just about everything that can burn.
