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Escambia County Honors Beulah Fire Chief Steve McNair
October 28, 2019
The Escambia County Commission recently issued a proclamation honoring Beulah Fire Chief Steve McNair for his many years of service to the community.
McNair (pictured right above) started his fire service involvement at just eight years old volunteering to clean the firehouse. By 11, when the air raid siren sounded in Beulah to alert volunteers, McNair would run, bike or be dropped off at Lakeside Inn to get a pump running to supply water to a dry hydrant — the only source of water to fight fire in Beulah at that time.
When the original Beulah fire station burned down, he used his construction skills to rebuild the fire station that stands today. He was an International Paper employee. In his position as fire safety manager, he was instrumental in helping Escambia County by provided fire training ground and facilities teach hazmat at IP.
In 2014, McNair was rescued by some of the very firefighters he trained during a major flood event. He was checking the structural integrity of a bridge on Nine Mile Road when his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters.
“It happened fast,” McNair told NorthEscambia.com after being rescued. “I was in the vehicle under the water. I knew I had to remain calm and do the right thing. I got out and managed to get a hold of a tree and hang on.”
A watercraft arrived on the scene, and Escambia firefighters fought the raging to creek to reach and rescue him from the tree.
“It was 100 percent the Lord,” McNair said. “There’s no other way I would have survived. I give Him all the credit for the great job done by the firemen.”
After a quick check from Escambia County EMS, McNair was on duty again.
According to the proclamation:
“Chief McNair is consistently training and influencing others to be better firefighters and better people. He does not ask anyone to perform a task that he is not willing to do himself,” the county proclamation states.
“Chief McNair’s leadership style changes with the situation. He always lets people learn by doing, but he enhances learning by incorporating different learning styles and techniques that fit the individual. He always asks, ‘What did you learn?”
“Chief McNair has selflessly responded to thousands of calls for assistance at all hours, in all kinds of environments and weather conditions, endearing himself to the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department, and Escambia County. He also has played an instrumental role in the Beulah Sausage Festival.”
NorthEscambia.com photos and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
27 Responses to “Escambia County Honors Beulah Fire Chief Steve McNair”
Chief McNair, thank you for answering the call God put on your life. We are all blessed that you did. You have worked tirelessly for our community, leading our fire department. Thank you also for being the kind of Christian that encourages those around you to follow Jesus. God bless you our friend.
Chief McNair, you answered the call that God put on your life and we are all grateful you did. You have worked tirelessly to improve our community and keep us all safe. Thank you so much for being the kind of Christian that everyone can look up to.God bless and keep you our friend.
Mr. Steve will always be one of my heroes. To the gentleman that said he wondered how many people are walking around today because if this man., My daughter is. We had an anaphylaxis emergency when she was just 18 months old and in a panic I didn’t know what to do other than take her to the fire department and Mr Steve just happened to be there . I owe my daughter now being 14 to this wonderful man. He truly is the definition of a hero and one of the best men you will ever meet! Thank You Mr. Steve!
Kudos well deserved for a true hero and an exemplary example of a dedicated firefighter, community leader and an all around good person. Thank you for all you have done for the Beulah community.
Congrats Chief McNair. You were a great inspiration to all those who served under you as well the ones you taught. I learned alot from you in the classes I had taken that you taught as well as on scenes. Enjoy your retirement and keep on smiling.
Thank you Mr. McNair, you are a true hero.
Congrats to one of the greatest. men to wear a uniform. Above and beyond in every single thing he does. Extremely honored to be able to call him a friend. God Bless you and yours Chief Steve
Congratulations Steve! “Gotcha”. Great working beside you for years
This is one of the most wonderful men you will every met. I taught him in Sunday School at Beulah Baptist when he was just a kid. Steve, we love and appreciate all you have done to make our Fire Dept what it is today. Keep up the good work.
God is Good, All the time, Love, Ms. Doris
When I had a medical emergency at 4:00 o’clock in the morning, Chief McNair was the first medical person there. I was in bad shape and had it not been for Chief McNair things might have turn out different.
I just wonder how many other people are still walking around today because of his tireless dedication to his community. Thank you Sir!!!!
Thank you so much, Chief McNair, for all of your hard work and professionalism. Whether you have been here to fight a serious wildfire in our woods or helping with a medical concern, you have always been a huge help AND a welcomed sight. Thanks, neighbor, and congratulations for recognition of your service.
Chief steve Has been like a dad to me. He’s been my very best buddy since 1999 and I could not begin to tell everyone what I have learned from him. I realized many times the only way I could be at Beulah Fire department was to be under his care and training. I miss him so much as I move to Indiana and he has influenced my life not only at the station but as a Christian man. I love you chief and always will and many prayers to you and Deborah!!! Congratulations my friend. This is so well deserved! Mom says Ure a great blessing to her too!!
Congratulations Chief it is a citation well deserved. It has been an honor to work beside you all these years.
Congratulations chief!!!! Like hundreds of others, I learned a lot from you over the years… from my initial 40 hr volunteer course to watching you at association meetings to running calls with you as a medic to teaching part of FO 1 at the station. Even just listening to you on calls and how you spoke and the choices you made. I’ve been gone a while, but when I left I’m sure there were VERY few, if any, FF’s in the county who hadn’t learned something from you at some point in their career!!! God Bless!!!
Chief McNair has been a good and faithful servant. The good that he has done cannot be counted. Congratulations on this recognition, Steve.
Congratulations Steve! You have been an inspiration and teacher to so many over your career! You are part of a group of firefighters who no matter the situation, you always provide the best you can provide to those in need.
Congratulations Steve, well deserved! Both Bobby and I worked with you, Bobby as a member of Seminole Fire Department and myself as a member of Cantonment Fire Department and the Escambia County Chief’s Association. This is a well deserved award. We are all proud to have served with you.
I am so proud and so blessed to call this wonderful man my uncle. I have always loooked up to my Uncle Steve and always will. Thank ypu Escambia county for honoring him in such a wonderful way.
I learned a lot from Chief McNair. His training was the beat I have ever had and put it to use in the 20 years that I out in with Escambia County.
Congratulations, Chief McNair. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. Your training classes were the best.
Thank you for your dedication to the fire department, men like you who have made it what it is today.
One of the greatest men I have ever had the pleasure to served beside.Steve you are a blessing to all .Love you brother
Steve you have been a great roll model for so many resident of Beulah. Some
would call you the hero of the area. God choose you to do this he new you where
Dedicated, a Godly and compassionate man. Thanks for the hard work for all these
Year
Much deserved Chief! Thank you for your countless hours of teaching, a lot of Firefighters including myself are grateful. Again Congratulations
Mr. Steve is an awesome man of God with a huge servants heart. Congratulations on the award you received. Thank you for your service.
I have had had the pleasure of knowing him and his family for many years. Steve is an outstanding person and his “giving all credit to OUR GOD” speaks volumes of his FAITH that he has shown throughout the years. A very giving man I’d he who has ALWAYS put others happiness, well being and safety above and beyond his very own. Congratulations Sir on this and we are all BLESSED to have you in our lives.
He really is a great guy. I have worked with him at IP and he will help you any time you ask for help.