Marble Falls hires new fire chief, separates fire marshal position

CONNIE SWINNEY • STAFF WRITER

MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Russell Sander summed up his professional philosophy with something he recalled one of his trainers saying.

“He said the word ‘service is in fire service,’ and that’s what we’re here to do,” Sander said. “What we’re here on Earth to do is to serve each other. That’s what I enjoy about being in the fire service, helping my neighbor.”

Sander, 48, joined Marble Falls Fire Rescue on March 8 and, after a little more than a week, made an initial assessment on the direction of the department.

“The staff is very professional, and I look forward to working with them and, hopefully, teaching them some of the things I’ve learned in my 27 years in the fire service,” he said. “I will work to put plans in place to grow the organization to meet the future needs of Marble Falls.”

Sander started his career in Taylor and then served as a firefighter in Georgetown before becoming the assistant fire chief in Missouri City outside of Houston in 2003.

Three years later, he was promoted to chief.

He expanded the Missouri City agency from 57 to 77 members as the population grew from approximately 65,000 to 95,000 during his tenure.

He led a department with four divisions and an $8 million budget.

“Budgets are something I have experience in and coming up with unique ways to answer those challenges that any organization faces,” he said.

In all the agencies for which he worked, he emphasized cooperative relationships.

“Working in the Central Texas area, I’ve learned so much. Taylor is a small department, which is similar to Marble Falls,” Sander said. “In Missouri City, we worked very closely with our neighboring agencies, too.

“We worked and trained together, and it was really a seamless operation, and I look forward to continuing that kind of philosophy in Marble Falls,” he added.

Keeping pace with resources, equipment and training remains a priority.

“Things are changing on a daily basis. I also have a training background,” he said. “Training is very important for a fire service. That’s the way to keep our firefighters safe.”

Johnny Caraway had served as both fire chief and fire marshal for the past three years.

As a result of the chief’s hiring, the city has separated the role of fire marshal into its own position, which Caraway will fill.

“It’s hard to stay focused in one area when you’re doing two things,” he said. “Two positions will be more efficient.”

Caraway initially started with the city of Marble Falls in 2007 as the fire marshal.

Through the years, the city has combined, divided and then re-combined the roles.

With the most recent staffing option, Caraway’s responsibilities will include assisting the fire chief and broadening his fire marshal role.

“We’ll also be out in the community more doing more inspections, plan reviews, building reviews and pre-plan and things of that nature, hopefully, to reduce fires,” he added. “We don’t have a lot of fires here, but we want to make sure we keep it that way. Keep the community safe.”

He welcomed Sander’s vision for the agency.

“It will be a good leadership role for the department,” Caraway said. “He has a lot of ideas, and I think it’ll bring good change for the department.”

Sander’s wife, Tammy, works as a school nurse in Missouri City. Their 18-year-old son is set to graduate from high school this spring.

“What I’m excited about the community is the future. I look forward to being part of that and helping the fire department grow and prepare it for the growth coming to Marble Falls,” Sander said. “The city council and the city staff have been very welcoming. When I was greeted in the first interview, I felt like I was home immediately.”

connie@thepicayune.com