Firefighter Pabel Troche: Making a Difference in Desperate Times

City of Smyrna Firefighter/Paramedic Pabel Troche is honored here as the “Hero of the Week” by the “Smyrna Auction for Heroes Gala” Committee.

When asked about his career choice, Troche replied, “I became interested in being a firefighter after seeing the difference that the profession made in people’s lives during their most desperate times.”

When firefighters battle to extinguish a home ablaze, they understand the occupants fear their family photos, grandmother’s china, or their high-school yearbooks will be lost forever. When firefighters can salvage these treasures for the occupants, it makes a significant difference. “So not only do we save lives,“ Troche concluded; “sometimes we save memories, too.”

Troche is a 10-year veteran, seven of those years in Smyrna. He is a Fire and Technical Rescue Instructor, a Paramedic, and an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor. Some of his greatest training, however, comes from the “wisdom obtained from my fellow firefighters.” 

One piece of wisdom helps Troche deal with stress and bring in to balance his professional and personal lives. As one retiring, senior firefighter instructed Troche, “If you’re willing to wash dishes at the firehouse, you need to be willing to wash them at home. If you’re willing to come out on a 2 a.m. call, you need to be willing to deal with a sick child at 2 a.m.”

In putting such advice into action, Troche acknowledges the stresses on his wife from him being gone so much and brings his firehouse lessons home to help his family. Troche wants to thank the “generous citizens of Smyrna that continue to support us year after year.”

People realize firefighters “give” to their communities, but he wants the community to know that “giving” goes more than one way. He speaks of pastors from area churches that drop in the station unannounced to pray for the firefighters’ safety. He reports that families stop by with their children to leave cookies and say “thank you.” Recently the crew of a call-out was invited to a neighborhood block party in appreciation of their efforts.

The partnership between , , and the community is what the Auction for Heroes Gala is all about. This is a community-wide effort among the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation (SPSF), the , and area businesses and residents to honor and celebrate the community’s “heroes.”

The SPSF funds community safety and outreach programs, the annual holiday event for area underprivileged children, recruitment to meet city growth, public safety improvements, the purchase of equipment, and other important programs and services.

Community involvement for the Gala continues to grow. From the business community, sponsors include 92.9 Atlanta Dave FM; Acopia Home Loans; Adventure Outdoors; Atkins Park Tavern; Blessings Unlimited; the Brightside; Charter Cable; Heritage at Vinings Subdivision; Legacy/Fox Creek Golf Courses; Luminocity; Regency Fine Art; Russell Landscape Group, Inc.; Smyrna-Vinings Patch; the Tricycle Agency; and The Vinings Club, with more partners coming on board each week.

Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon is honorary chair for the Auction for Heroes Gala, which takes place Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at Brawner Hall, 3180 Atlanta Road in Smyrna. It features live entertainment, delicious food, and both live and silent auctions of goods and services from area businesses and residents.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Smyrna Auctions for Heroes Gala and be a part of what promises to become Smyrna’s biggest event each year.

For information on becoming a sponsor, donating items or funds, or volunteering your efforts, contact Jim or Karen Carter, jimcarter1@charter.net, karencarter@charter.net. For information on the SPSF, see www.smyrnapsf.org.