By Marcia Antipa

From the time he was a little boy, Oakland Fire Captain Brian Oftedal knew he wanted to be a firefighter. Brian laughs about writing an autobiography in kindergarten, “I talked about how when I grow up, I wanted to be a firefighter-paramedic, just like John Gage and Roy DeSoto in “Emergency.” With my friends, our bikes would be our emergency vehicles and we would open and close the garage door and respond to calls.”

It didn’t take long for Brian to fulfill his lifelong dream, and in the process, to make a decades-long connection with the Red Cross. As a teenager, Brian took part in the Paramedic Explorer program, got his EMT certificate, and took the Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR and First Aid Class. “Brian was born to serve,” says Eva Marquez, American Red Cross Volunteer Engagement Manager. “He was in high school when he started and was the youngest volunteer on our team. I would see him volunteering at the Red Cross First Aid Station at the Livermore Wente Winery during their concert or co-teaching a CPR/First Aid class with a big smile.”

In the 1990s, he was hired as a part-time firefighter paramedic for the Bethel Island Fire Protection District and went on to serve in multiple first responder roles. Now he is a captain with the Oakland Fire Department, a member of the Advisory Commission for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and a seasoned volunteer with the Red Cross. “The Red Cross is deeply grateful to have Brian as a local champion in our greater Bay Area communities,” says Hanna Malak, CEO of the Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region. He further states, “His involvement in the organization is multi-dimensional and his support for our mission is unwavering.”

Brian says he has seen Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) in action, both as a volunteer and as a firefighter, “They provide those hugs and mental support that comforts and gives them hope.” Trained and available, DAT volunteers are ready to respond to these emergencies, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From offering a shoulder to cry on, to meeting any immediate needs for shelter or supplies, to connecting people with long term recovery services, the volunteers ensure that families don’t have to face tough times alone. Brian seems to be everywhere at once. His volunteer work with the Red Cross includes not only serving on the Contra Costa County Leadership Council, but also installing free smoke alarms, arranging for disaster preparation classes in local elementary schools, and spreading the word about the Red Cross through his social media pages. Chief Lewis Broschard of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has worked with Brian for several years on community fire issues. “He is committed, it’s not just occasional with him,” says Chief Broschard. “It’s a constant. He carries on as a public servant even after he gets home from work at Oakland Fire. He’s dedicated to helping people.”

Brian plays a key role in Sound the Alarm, a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign which aims to reduce the number of deaths from home fires througout the country. During Sound the Alarm events, volunteers install free smoke alarms in houses and mobile homes and provide home fire safety education. The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has helped save 2,063 lives since its initiation in 2014. Brian encourages other first responders to take part in several Red Cross activities.  Natalie Manier, disaster program manager for Contra Costa County, says, “Last year, Brian invited Royal Ambulance to volunteer at our Sound the Alarm event in Brentwood. They sent a team of EMTs and an ambulance to our event. They loved it so much that they came back this year for our event in Concord on April 6.”

Briana Taylor, board member for the Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, says “Brian knows that even the simplest act, like installing a smoke alarm or sharing information about a blood drive makes an enormous difference. These are the moments that strengthen the ties with our neighbors and make our world a better place to be.”

For his part, Brian says he is simply grateful that he can be of service, “I feel honored and humbled to have been welcomed into the American Red Cross family and to have had so many opportunities to support the mission while giving back to our communities.”

To learn more about the Sound the Alarm campaign, or to find out how you can volunteer for the Red Cross, visit redcross.org.