An Austin suburb cut the ribbon to a new fire station on Wednesday, Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported.
The opening of the City of Hutto’s David “Red” Oman Fire Station No. 3 occurred more than five years after voters approved a sales tax to aid Hutto Fire Rescue (HFR) with infrastructure and manpower, according to the station.
The station’s namesake formerly led the department as part of nearly three decades of service, the report said.
According to KVUE, Oman was also known for his culinary mastery aside from his passion for serving the community.
“It was quite interesting that for a long time when I was here, I never realized that the individual Captain Red of ‘Captain Red's Catering’ had been Red Oman, the fire chief,” HFR Chief Scott Kerwood told the station.
Kerwood further recalled how when he and Oman first met, the latter quipped, “I just sell chicken fried steaks,” KVUE reported.
Oman’s family told the station that the station named after him sits on property he and his brother used to own.
The facility looks to help first responders get to calls quicker amid an increase in Hutto’s population, per KVUE.
Located at 211 Limmer Loop, the station will serve residents of the Sienna subdivision and nearby areas.
“When it comes to a medical call, you get there with much quicker time to deliver your medical care,” Kerwood told KVUE. “Regardless of what community you are in, when it's a growing community, you see that you strategically have fire stations located in the community.”