Westlake Fire Chief Jonathan Duff has a love for his job and the community he serves, and it’s evident in his words and actions.

Duff is in his second year as fire chief, but he has served the Westlake Fire Department for more than two decades.

“It’s been a really exciting transition to go from the guy who was following the plan to now being the guy putting the plan together. I love my job and I love being able to make an impact in my own community,” Duff said.

After graduating high school, Duff earned an electrical degree and initially set out for an industrial career working in the local plants. That plan ended, he said, when he found himself longing for something more fulfilling.

“It really was a desire to make a difference that pushed me into becoming a firefighter, and I’ve been incredibly happy with that decision ever since,” Duff said.

Over the years, Duff has done just that. While moving up through the ranks of the Westlake Fire Department,  Duff made a point to support the men and women of the department as best he could, but he also found ways to support the community they all serve.

In addition to his firefighter duties, Duff assists with the Westlake Little League baseball and softball program where many of his firefighters now volunteer as coaches.

“It’s really just a great part of working for the city of Westlake. The city has always supported us with the league and they also encourage us in our volunteering efforts,” Duff said.

The Westlake Fire Department responds to about 1,000 calls a year and it is Duff’s responsibility to be sure the men and women of his department are prepared and trained for those needs, but he has taken that responsibility to new heights.

The WFD currently boasts some of the most highly-trained firefighters in the state, and Duff is now building up the department’s first special operations team that will respond to water rescues.

Already, the team has certified rescue swimmers, one certified rescue diver, and the team just acquired its first rescue boat.

Duff said the department first saw such a need during Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020, and he believes the addition of such a team could be useful in many situations moving forward.

“Basically, in any situation we want to be able to either do it or be able to help someone else do it,” Duff said.

In all his work and accomplishments, Duff remains humble and insists he is only successful because of the support of his department and his two assistant fire chiefs. It’s a special “brotherhood” he said that has been created from the men and women of the department working through stressful situations together and supporting one another in their personal lives as a family.

“We really are a family here and we all push each other and support one another. There’s no way I could do any of this alone and we certainly would not be operating as smoothly as we are without their help,” Duff said.