Meet your Firefighters!

David Coplan Castillo works as an Engineer for the Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS in Comal County, Texas. His work involves driving the Fire Engine to incidents, and operating the pump and other equipment depending on the type of incident.

Elizabeth Dillard is a Licensed Paramedic and Firefighter with the Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS. She has a BA in Communications from Louisiana Baptist University, is a Licensed Paramedic from UT Health Science Center, and a Firefighter with Bulverde Spring Branch Fire and EMS.

As two of this month’s STEM Heroes, David and Elizabeth kindly answered a few questions about STEM careers — its relevance to their work, what inspired them, and more. Check them out below!

How do you use STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in your career?

David: I use it far more than I expected to when I started. Firefighting involves every aspect of STEM at some level. We use science to better understand the dynamics of Fire, Medicine, and Rescue. We use Technology to improve the capabilities of our crews to respond to any scenario that they might come across. We use Engineering and Math in everything, be it high angle rescue rope deployments, pumping water through hose-lines, an everything in between.

Elizabeth: All the time, from anatomy and physiology, medication math, and all the modern tools and technology to assist with that in the back of an ambulance, to engineering concepts and practical applications on the fire ground.

What do you love most about what you do?

David: I love that our only job is to help people, in every way that we can. I love that when people are in need, they call us, and trust us to try our best to solve or at least alleviate their struggles.

Elizabeth: All the people I get to not only interact with, but work with and assist, from co-workers, professionals such as nurses, doctors, firefighters, to our community, such as children, adults and the elderly.

What got you interested in your career? How did you get started?

David: I always wanted to help people. And I took a fire science class in high school that got me interested in the Fire Service. When I was old enough, I tested for my local Fire Department, got the job, and never looked back. It's the best job in the world.

Elizabeth: My initial interest came from genuinely wanting to help people. I had been told under stressful situations, I was able to help people through those times. That led to just taking the next step, trying one course, class or job after the next, up until now, working as a first responder.