Monroe County Fire Rescue captain retires

After 30 years of serving the Florida Keys community as a firefighter/paramedic and certified training instructor, long-standing Monroe County employee Capt. David Sebben will retire from Monroe County Fire Rescue at the end of June.

“My career was inspired by friendship and has been full of many firsts,” he said. “I was in one of the department’s first fire academies, completed the flight medic programs, was one of the first paid flight medics on Trauma Star, and in the first group of promotions to Lieutenant.”

A career memory of his includes being part of the crew that fought the fire at Melons Restaurant in a small strip mall on Plantation Key in 1993. While on the roof, the tins beneath his feet began to crumble, and as he started down the ladder, the roof collapsed.

After Sept. 11, 2001, he also served on the county’s first Urban Search and Rescue team and the Light Technical Rescue team to help victims in more complex situations.

Sebben, a Key Largo resident, plans to remain local and spend more time with his wife, Crystal, and children, Kaitlyn, Abby and Alex, who is following in his father’s footsteps by attending Florida State Fire College.

“We are proud of David’s accomplishments with Monroe County Fire Rescue. He was the impromptu leader at the station where I worked when I first started here,” said Fire Chief Jim Callahan. “I am honored to have worked with him during his tenure and wish him great success in his retirement.”