Sam McGee (Crestmont Private Wealth) sits down with Brian Reilly, Chief of the Sisterdale Volunteer Fire Department. Brian shares his journey from zero fire experience to leading a department that grew from 8 to 33 members. The conversation centers on the July 4, 2025 Hill Country floods, volunteer recruitment, and the community-first model that makes Sisterdale VFD unique.

0:00 — Intro & welcome; Firefighter 1/2 class graduation shout-out

~1:00 — Brian's background: no fire experience, moved to Sisterdale, joined the department

~3:00 — Why he stayed: serving fellow responders, growing the team from 8 to 33

~5:00 — Career pivot: data analyst → Ready Pro Safety small business owner

~7:00 — July 4th floods: how fast the river rose, the debris, being boxed in by low water crossings

~9:00 — Taking over county operations command out of Sisterdale station

~11:00 — Out-of-state assets, Alamo Heights boat teams, and the unsung heroes of the recovery

~12:30 — The challenge of well-meaning volunteers without training; protecting civilians from what they'd see

~14:00 — Mental health support: Jillian Rodriguez, Hill Country Family Services

~14:30 — 70% of US fire departments are all-volunteer; how to get involved

~15:00 — Sisterdale's community-owned model: two tiers of membership, full financial transparency

~15:40 — Drone program, non-responder roles, and the call to serve in any capacity

Original Air Date: July 11, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898