By Emma Longwell, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
On a meaningful Friday evening, the Apopka Fire Department came together with the 2650 Foundation for a special gathering at Apopka Fire Station One. In a heartfelt ceremony, six dedicated firefighters received scholarships, empowering them to take a Vehicle and Machinery Rescue certification course. This support honors their bravery and equips them with vital skills to enhance public safety in their community.
Vehicle and Machinery Rescue certification is an advanced rescue training program. This program equips firefighters with important skills to respond to complex and complicated vehicle and machinery rescue scenarios.
The scholarships were made possible by the generous support of the 2650 Foundation, which was formed in honor of fallen firefighter Austin Duran by his family, friends, and fellow firefighters. Its mission is to support firefighter education, training, and safety initiatives. The foundation wants to ensure that Austin's legacy of service and dedication continues to inspire and protect the firefighters and the communities they serve.
The award recipients are Engineer Stephen DeMatties, Engineer Sean Potter, Firefighter EMT Racquel Lopez, Firefighter Paramedic Juan Millan, Firefighter EMT Danio Perez, and Firefighter EMT Tomas Rodriguez.
Diane Velazquez, Vice Mayor of Apopka, attended the event and said it was "an honor and privilege to attend and support #2650 Foundation events, to show [her] support of the efforts of Mr. Mike Duran that he provides on behalf of his beloved son, Firefighter Austin Duran."
Duran, who lost his son in 2022, turned the loss into something for the better. Through the creation of the 2650 Foundation, scholarships are provided to firefighters to be able to receive extra training – which can ultimately save their lives and many others.
"I'm really excited to be able to do this and honor their firefighters," Duran said. "I look forward to continuing to support all firefighters with other certificates."
On Monday, Duran went to the St. Cloud Training Facility and spoke with all the firefighters participating in the training. He told them about Austin and how important it is for firefighters to receive all the training they can. Duran noted that after his son's death, they found that Austin spoke in his notes app about mentorship and training. While they didn't know what exactly he planned on doing with that note, it reinforces the 2650 Foundation's mission to ensure firefighters get the necessary training.
AFD Interim Fire Chief Wil Sanchez thanked Duran for all that he does for the community.
"I would like to thank the Duran family for their continued support of us here at the Apopka Fire Department and the generosity they continually give toward the Fire Service with the 2650 Foundation that made this advanced training possible for six of our members," Sanchez said. "They have continually carried forth Austin's vision of what the fire service could hold and have given us and Austin a legacy to be proud of that will carry on for generations with the same warmth and kindness for the world that Austin shared with everyone he encountered."
With the support of the 2650 Foundation, the Apopka Fire Department continues to honor the legacy of Austin Duran, transforming tragedy into meaningful change. Through these scholarships, the foundation invests in the skills and safety of Apopka's firefighters and reaffirms the community's strength and resilience. As these six firefighters embark on their specialized training in Vehicle and Machinery Rescue, they commit to serve, protect, and honor the memory of a fallen hero. Their dedication—and the foundation's vision—demonstrates that true heroism lies not just in acts of bravery but in the enduring spirit of service, support, and community.
