07/25/2025
Meet another Lewis County Fire District #9 - Mineral WA volunteer!!
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฏ: ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๏ธ๐
If youโve ever wondered what keeps things running behind the scenes at a fire department, meet Bob โ a volunteer with unmatched experience, precision, and a heart for community service.
After years of monitoring local radio traffic and noticing delayed or missed responses, Bob saw a need โ and decided to be the one to step in. โIt presented a problem I decided needed changing,โ he said.
Now officially part of LCFD9 since early 2025 (after attending meetings in late 2024), Bob serves in a ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ โ a vital, non-firefighting, non-EMT position thatโs essential on every scene.
From operating pumps, generators, and vehicle systems, to handling SCBA logistics, traffic incident management (TIMS), and assisting with extrication or transport โ ๐๐ผ๐ฏ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ-๐๐ผ ๐ด๐๐. He anticipates needs, relays radio communications, and supports the team wherever needed. โBeing a go-to aid for all, basically,โ as he humbly puts it.
Ask Bob to choose a most memorable moment, and heโll tell you there isnโt just one. โEvery call is a valuable, impactful learning moment. The adrenaline rush, the camaraderie, the humor in training โ it all leaves a mark.โ
Though retired, Bob lives just two miles from the station and maintains his readiness through regular strength training, mental preparedness, and a constant appetite for learning. โI just drop what Iโm doing and go.โ
His motivation? Twofold:
1. The ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ for a reliable, professional response in the community, and
2. The ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ who shows up consistently when it counts.
Bob brings with him decades of experience in hazmat response, fire mitigation, and tanker operations. Heโs also a skilled amateur radio operator, drone pilot, tower climber, electronics repair wizard, and just about everything else you can imagine. From radios to sirens, Bob can fix it, install it, and probably improve it while heโs at it.
His advice to future volunteers? Be honest with yourself: โCan you show up at a momentโs notice? Handle stress? Follow orders? Work with others? If you can answer โyesโ to most of those, youโll do great.โ
What he loves most about Mineral? The community vibe, the wild beauty, and the balance of openness and seclusion. And being part of LCFD9 gives him a unique window into every corner of the town he serves.
Thank you, Bob, for stepping up, staying sharp, and always being the calm, consistent voice behind the radio. Your commitment, knowledge, and drive for excellence raise the bar for us all. ๐ง๐ฅ
๐ Want to make a difference like Bob? Whether youโre interested in fighting fires, providing EMS support, or helping behind the scenes with logistics, thereโs a place for you at LCFD9. No matter your skills or background, we need dedicated community members who are ready to show up when it counts.
Reach out today and learn how you can serve! ๐๐
