Last weekend, Kyle Ienn — chief of the Ralston (Neb.) Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad — was laid to rest. A lot has been said about Kyle, his leadership and his accomplishments with the department. Several national organizations such as the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers Section and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation have issued condolences either online or via e-mail that exalt the leadership he exhibited on the local, state and national level. But I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few more personal experiences with him.
I first met Kyle at a Fire-Rescue International. That year, he was nominated for FIRE CHIEF’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award. Kyle didn’t win, but he and I met at the awards dinner and subsequently started a long-distance dialogue. Ironically from 1969 to 1971 — the year Kyle was born — my wife and I lived on 83rd Street in Ralston while I was stationed at nearby Offutt Air Force Base. Our oldest son, Dale, was born during that time, and I was fortunate enough to join the Ralston Volunteer Fire Department. It was an exciting time to join a progressive department. Ralston operated two EMS units, including one that provided mobile intensive care — something most departments only thought about or saw every week on television’s Emergency.
Innovation wasn’t just in Ralston, as nearby La Vista’s Fire Department had the first top mounted pump that I’d ever seen. This avant-garde design for its time allowed pump operators an unobstructed view of the fire or emergency scene. I also remember some of the combined drills where we had multiple department training that also included Papillion. I joked with Kyle that undoubtedly these drills ended in a “waterball” challenge, especially on hot summer nights or at one of the many town festivals. But my joy on the department was riding on the 1949 Mack that served as the second-due engine for “in-city” calls. As our apartment was about six blocks from the station, I rarely made the first truck out, which meant that most of the time either I made or on to or drove the Mack — still Ralston’s Engine 132 and the pride of its members. To this backdrop, I began my friendship with Kyle.
Most recently, Kyle and I had exchanged e-mails on items of interest in Ralston. One chain asked if I remembered a picture of the original Ralston rescue truck parked outside what appeared to be a hospital. I had replied that I remembered seeing the photo on display at the station, but that the truck had been replaced before I had joined the department.
The other e-mail was a link to a story about a major fire that occurred last year at the same apartment complex on 83rd Street where Diana and I had lived. It was a very smoky fire that attracted a lot of press coverage, and the video clearly showed how Ralston and its surrounding communities had quickly come together to contain and extinguish the fire that had originated in one of several detached garages. It also showed the leadership of Ralston officers in directing the attack to cut off the fast moving fire from the main building of the apartment complex. I was very proud to see that the Ralston department had continued their emphasis on training that separates the good or great departments and I had congratulated Kyle on his department and its leadership.
Fast forward now to last week when it was learned that Kyle had died. The news hit me and many in the fire service with disbelief. Kyle was a vibrant, progressive and innovative chief officer extremely proud of his department. In his own words, here is what he stated as part of the Welcome to his department’s website:
Our firefighters are some of the best in the country and are extremely proud of their Fire Department. With their pride, comes ownership. An ownership that has been forged by a belief in core values such as pride, honor, commitment, dedication, and integrity.
While it will be difficult, I am sure that these core values will continue in Ralston. To Kyle’s wife, Christine, his children and the department, please accept our deepest sympathy and know that those who had the privilege of meeting him will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
