The Walker Community Center recently buzzed with energy as Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 4 marked a momentous occasion: 50 years of service to our community. What made this year’s Family Day truly special wasn’t just the milestone itself, but the remarkable gathering of people who made it possible.
Current members had the opportunity to meet retired colleagues whose names they’d heard in station stories, while founding members from 1975 toured displays of the department’s modern equipment and capabilities. Families connected across generations, creating a meaningful gathering that reflected five decades of service to the community.
Battle of the Pots: The Jambalaya Showdown
Louisiana firefighters take two things seriously: protecting their community and their jambalaya recipes. This year’s cook-off proved that competitive spirit runs deep at LPFPD4, with five teams vying for bragging rights that will last until next year’s event.
The competition featured A Shift, B Shift, C Shift, Headquarters, and the Board of Commissioners, each bringing their best pot to the table. Our panel of judges faced an unenviable task—Mark Benton, Steve Brock, Parish President Randy Delatte, Chad Lott, and Eddie Young sampled each entry through a blind voting process, ultimately awarding the trophy to the Board of Commissioners Team for both best taste and presentation.
While Headquarters may have fallen short in the jambalaya category, attendees made sure their perfectly smoked brisket didn’t go unnoticed or uneaten. Sometimes the best victories don’t come with trophies.
The Evolution of D4 Fire Service
Walking through the Community Center on Saturday, you could trace the department’s evolution through the conversations happening around every corner. Alumni members marveled at the technology now standard in every apparatus. Current members listened intently to stories of the volunteer era, when dedication meant something entirely different.
The volunteer firefighters who built this department from 1975 through the 1990s didn’t just respond to emergencies. They maintained equipment with their own hands, rebuilt fire truck motors in their personal time, and even purchased fuel from their own wallets to ensure apparatus could roll when the community needed help. They mowed the grass at the stations and showed up regardless of the personal cost because their neighbors needed them.
The transformation over the past quarter-century illustrates both the department’s growth and the community’s expansion. The numbers tell a powerful story of growth:
- 25 years ago: We answered around 2,300 calls a year and had just hired our first part-time firefighter
- 9 years ago: We brought on our first full-time firefighters and operated four manned stations
- Today in 2025: We proudly respond to more than 7,000 incidents a year, with six stations manned 24/7 and two additional stations manned during the day
The increase represents more than just numbers. Each call represents a family in crisis, a medical emergency, a structure fire, or a vehicle accident where trained professionals arrive ready to help.
Honoring the Foundation
Saturday’s celebration allowed current members to showcase the modern capabilities and resources now available, from advanced medical equipment to state-of-the-art apparatus. Yet the most meaningful moments came when presenting this progress to the men and women who laid the foundation. Their work in an era of limited resources and volunteer-only staffing made today’s professional department possible.
The department owes gratitude to the City of Walker for providing the Community Center as the venue for this gathering. The space allowed the LPFPD4 family—spanning five decades—to come together comfortably and celebrate appropriately.
Looking Ahead
Milestone anniversaries naturally prompt reflection, but they also inspire forward thinking. The firefighters who founded LPFPD4 in 1975 couldn’t have imagined the department would grow to its current size and capability. Similarly, today’s members can only imagine what the next 50 years will bring.
What remains constant is commitment. Whether volunteer or career, whether answering 2,300 calls or 7,000, whether operating from one station or ten, the mission stays the same: protect the community and serve with excellence.
To every member who has worn the LPFPD4 uniform over the past five decades—and to their families who shared the burden of service—thank you. To the community that has supported this department through its growth and trusted us during your most difficult moments—thank you. Here’s to 50 years of service, and to many more ahead.
