Alexis Allen

Growing up in Eustis, Alexis Allen always knew she was meant to serve others. 

Now 28 years old and a firefighter at the Eustis Fire Department, Alexis has come full circle, embodying the compassion and strength she once admired in others.

“I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter since I was 7,” Alexis says. “Because my grandparents were both older and my grandmother was pretty sick, there was a fire truck at our house at least once a week.”

Meeting firefighters like Lt. Michael Peckham left a lasting impression on her. 

“On some of the worst days, those guys would come in and make it better, reassuring me that things would be okay,” she says. “I knew I wanted to make others feel safe like those men made me feel when I needed them.”

Determined to follow her dream, Alexis initially considered joining the military. However, when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, she chose to stay closer to home. She enrolled in the EMT and firefighting program at Lake Technical College and ultimately graduated in 2018. 

“I went through fire standards while I was pregnant, stayed home to be a mom, and finally decided it was time to do what I want to do,” she says.

Alexis thrives on helping others in their time of need while balancing her role as a firefighter with her responsibilities as a mother of three.

“When it’s someone’s worst day, we are there to make it better,” she says. 

After starting paramedic school in January, Alexis looks forward to expanding her skills and further serving her community.

Alexis is also the current Miss Lake County Elite, a role that allows her to give back to her community in meaningful ways. 

“How much this program gives back really speaks to me,” she says. “As a mom, I got to help because my daughter was Miss Lake County two years in a row. Competing gave me a firsthand opportunity to volunteer in my community.”

Alexis’s commitment to service is rooted deeply in her faith. Her favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:10-12, speaks to her outlook on life. It reads: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”