JANUARY 2011 MEMBER PROFILE: District Chief Steve Gerbert, F-7 Active

Steve Gerbert graduated high school in 1975 from Bolles. He then went to Stetson University for two years to become a lawyer. Steve then finished at Jacksonville University in 1979.
Steve is married to Angela and has one stepson, Cameron who is 16 years old.

Steve became interested in the fire service after his brother Jeff, retired Rescue Lieutenant, asked if Steve could ride on Engine 18 one day to take pictures. Captain Ron Gore, (retired), Gil Mixon, deceased, Buck Buchannan (retired) and Rick Barrett (retired) was assigned to sta. 18. Robert Wyse was F7 at the station. Steve spent the day taking pictures and that night when the bell went off for a fire by the time Steve got his clothes on the apparatus bay doors were going down and he missed the fire. The next morning Chief Wyse asked Steve if he was scared to go to a fire and Steve simply replied “No sir, I just have to learn to dress quicker.” During his time at Sta. 18 as an observer a deep friendship was formed between Jeff, Steve and
Gil Mixon.

Steve’s Dad was a prominent lawyer in town with an office across the street from Sta. 21. Steve’s Dad had wanted him to become a lawyer and not a fireman. That all changed when Steve’s Dad had a heart attack at work and Buddy Macarages, and Rodney Cribbs responded from Sta. 21. The treatment went well and his Dad was converted and recovered. Steve said his father gained a great deal of respect for firemen at that time and changed his mind about Steve becoming one.

Steve was hired in March 1988 with the largest class ever hired by the department. He was assigned to Engine 4 with Jim Tuten as his officer. Steve left in 1991 to Eng. 5. In 1992 he was promoted to Engineer and went to Ladder 2. At that time there was no tower ladders in Jacksonville. Steve had heard of a used tower ladder in Ft. Lauderdale. Together with Bob Ivy they went to Ft. Lauderdale for the purchase of a used Baker. Steve drove the first tower ladder in the department back to Jacksonville. Steve served on the committee that wrote the specifications for ladders and tower ladders to be purchased in the future.

In 1996 Steve was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to L44 for 6 months and then went to L18. In 1999 Steve was promoted to Roving Captain. Steve then served at Sta. 21 as Capt. on the squad for a short time as he had his HazMat training.

In 2204 Steve was assigned as Captain of L18 and in 2005 promoted to District Chief Fire 7, where he is presently assigned.

Steve and several firemen visited New York soon after the attacks of 9-11, and attended
Funerals of firemen that lost their lives that day. Close friendships were made, particularly with the men at L157 in Brooklyn. These friendships have lead Steve to participate in numerous
9-11 Memorial golf tournaments in Myrtle Beach, SC in memory of those that lost their lives.
Steve then was key in organizing 9-11 Memorial Golf Tournaments in the Jacksonville area.

Steve says that the most memorable times on the department were spent at FS 2. Many friendships were formed at that time. The people that Steve considers close friends born out of that time at Sta. 2 are: Gil Mixon, Chip George, Ivan Richmond, Sam Granger, Randy Wyse, Johnny Williams and Kevin Miller. Steve openly admits that his mentors were, Gil Mixon, Gary Johns and Davis Love, these were the “Laddermen” that meant a great deal to Steve.

Steve will be going on the drop program as of February 2, 2011. He hopes to continue teaching with the recruits at the Training Academy.