- November 23, 2024
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Port Orange Firefighter Ricky Francois was named the city's 2019 Firefighter of the Year.
Fire Chief Ken Fustin introduced Francois at the Port Orange-South Daytona Chamber of Commerce City Managers’ breakfast on Wednesday, Jan.30.
“It’s not often that one gets to know someone who impresses you in his personal and professional life," Fustin said. "Ricky is that guy in the Port Orange Fire Department."
Francois came to Florida from Newark, New Jersey, as a young adult. He enrolled at Daytona State College in the firefighter program and was hired on July 14, 2014. Since that time, Francois has continued his education. He has taken classes to become a fire inspector, and is enrolled at DSC in the paramedic program.
He is expected to graduate from that program in 2020. Currently Francois is a driver engineer for the fire department.
When he was not working at the fire house, Francois founded a nonprofit organization called “Firefighters for Kids," which is a donation-driven, tax-deductible organization that provides school supplies to underprivileged children in Volusia County. Because of Francois’ efforts, over 2,000 children have received back packs and much needed school supplies.
