By Ramsey Sullivan Riverbend News
New Jersey, Kissimmee, Fla., Antarctica and Saudi Arabia are just a few of the places that Steven Lang has lived during his 22 year career as a firefighter. Lang and his family have now settled in Jennings and he will be taking on the role of the first Jennings Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief.
Lang began his career as a firefighter in 1999, while living in Kissimmee, Fla. From 1999 to 2007, Lang worked at numerous locations in the central Florida area. One of his most notable accomplishments is being a first responder at ground zero when the World Trade Centers collapsed in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.
From 2007 to 2008, he began working as a contract firefighter overseas. He returned to Central Florida in 2008, and left again in 2011 to do contract firefighting in Antarctica. His most recent adventure as a contract firefighter recently ended after working in Saudi Arabia for five years. During his five years in Saudi Arabia, Lang returned home for a few weeks every 90 days or so and when he and his family moved to Jennings in 2018, he began volunteering at the Jennings Volunteer Fire Department in his off time.
In June of 2020, Lang was asked to become the first official fire chief in Jennings and he quickly accepted. "I believe in the little town of Jennings," said Lang. "I want to give my talents to the area and put the town of Jennings first again."
Lang officially finished his contract in Saudi Arabia and continued volunteering his time to the Jennings Volunteer Fire Department for the remainder of 2020. On Monday, Jan. 4, Lang officially took on the role of fire chief and is excited to give back to the town of Jennings.
According to Lang, the most difficult part of being a fire chief is "living up to everyone's expectations and doing the right thing." However, Lang knows that the town of Jennings deserves the best, and that is precisely what he is setting out to give them.