Volunteer Firefighter Becomes First Responder To Honor Late Father

A Green Country volunteer firefighter is following in her father's footsteps as a first responder.

For as long as Brianna Abel can remember she has wanted to help people. "I always said I wanted to be a flight nurse, but then my brother passed away when I was 16," she said.

Brianna lost her brother Brandon to drunk driving and her mother said that caused her to lose sight of her dream.

"Grief took over and she stopped," said Ida Abel. In September, the family experienced another tragedy when Brianna's father Alan passed away very suddenly.

"I think with his death she decided that she wanted back in it," Ida continued saying, "She wanted to do it to the best of her ability just the way he did."

Alan was a first responder for 13 years getting his start right out of high school as a volunteer firefighter in Oologah.

"He first said it was the lights and sirens, you know they are all little boys inside," said Ida. "He said helping others and seeing their stories and knowing that he made a difference is what really brought him into it."

Brianna said her father was very supportive of her goal to help others, just like he had. "I always knew he was proud of me back whenever I said this is what I want to do with my life and he always still encouraged me," she added.

When he passed away, Brianna decided to take that leap as a way to honor her father. She is now volunteering with the Disney Fire Department, training to be an EMT, and working at an area jail.

"All I want for them is the best and that is all he ever wanted for them, so to see her take off in her daddy's footsteps means a lot," said Ida.

When asked what Brianna would say to her father if he were still here she said, "I am making it dad."