Our First Responders: Ryan Michels

Ryan Michels works double duty as a firefighter for the Port of Houston and the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department, making him and his wife, Nicole, literally a couple of lifesavers.

While he’s watched Nicole’s job intensify during the pandemic, he says the firefighters have taken a step back, staging arrivals away from the dispatch location when responding to medical calls in order to avoid contact with patients unless needed by the medic unit.

When they are needed, they’re ready to jump into action in full gown, gloves, glasses, and face shield. Initially, they met every call in full gear; now, patients are prescreened by dispatchers for COVID-19 risk.

“It’s to prevent more people than needed from getting exposure,” Ryan says. “They’re definitely keeping us safe.”

Ryan says the firefighters wear masks in the truck and at all times; a lot more cleaning goes on at the station and on equipment too. Otherwise, it’s business as usual at the fire station, which remains at the ready to assist whenever called on. But Ryan says the pandemic has taken its toll.

“Something new’s out there, so we gotta adapt to this.“

“I had two guys on my crew who tested positive, and the Houston Fire Department has had multiple fatalities from COVID-19. It’s definitely affected the fire service, but the EMS side a lot more.”

Ryan says while firefighters in general don’t like change, they’ve had to learn. “It’s a change, but really, it’s just another day. Something new’s out there, so we gotta adapt to this.”

Ryan Michels is a Texas Farm Bureau member. Dainna Bunch, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Houston, nominated him for this series. Read about our other first responders, Samuel Askins, Kirk Burnett, Nicole Michels, Brigette Munoz, Delaney Sweeney, and Brent Tymrak.