Firefighter Spotlight #6Firefighter Eric Vige' was appointed by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to the Ward 6 Fire Board of Commissioners in 2009. In 2010, he decided to also join the department as a volunteer and has been an active volunteer for the last 13 years.

Firefighter Vige' has completed the Ward 6 Fire Entry level firefighter program, NIMS 100, 200, 700, & 800, and hazardous materials certification. He was also named the 2018 Firefighter of the year and was recognized multiple times for responding to the most emergency calls in a year.

Eric is the son of the late Johnny Vige' and Midge Vige', Ms. Vige' is as spry as ever and makes sure Eric reports to her front porch almost every morning for coffee. Eric is the father of Erika and Scotti and he has 3 granddaughters, Gabbie, London, Layla and 1 grandson, Archer.

Hobbies include woodworking, welding. “In the past few years, I’ve discovered a love for climbing (not cliffs 😊) and traveling”. Eric is always giving a helping hand when others need assistance with projects around their homes and his knowledge makes him the go to guy if something breaks at the fire department. He gives a lot of time fixing or repairing items that the department would otherwise have to pay a 3rd party contractor to take care of.

Eric is the superintendent of the Waterworks District that serves a portion of the Ward 6 and Ward 4 areas. Around the department he has affectionately earned the name of "Waterboy" due to his dedication to the water district and ensuring the citizens of the water district have great water to drink, even during Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and the Ice storm, the water district was able to continue to serve its customers when many other water departments having to turn off their systems.

Goals in fire service
“Firefighters always have the opportunity to learn from each other. I hope to always know that I can learn from other’s experiences, no matter how little or long they have been in the fire service. I want to apply what I learn to my career and pass what knowledge I have to my brothers and sisters in the fire service”.

Why do you volunteer/work as a fire fighter?
“I knew from a very early age that I was put on earth to help people. Being a firefighter is just another way I can do that. The work is not always easy and the emotional toll it can take on you can sometimes be overwhelming, but the sense of being of help others in their time of need gives me a great feeling of accomplishment and reward”.

The dedication eric has to public service sets the bar and it is difficult to find any other that gives so freely of their time to help the community. If you see Firefighter Vige' in the community give him a shout out of thanks for serving others with pride, teamwork, and Excellence.