NEWS ABOUT SAN JUAN COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO. 3
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Firefighter of the Month
Photos by Ron Garner
Holly Meeker, June Firefighter of the Month
posted 06/22/01
Holly Meeker, lieutenant at the Roche Harbor Station, has quickly moved up the ranks since becoming a firefighter two years ago. She started out as a wildland firefighter, then became a structural firefighter and then a lieutenant.
For her involvement, Meeker is San Juan Island Fire Department's Firefighter of the Month.
Last November, she and two other members of the department drove two of the new engines from Wisconsin across the country in ice and sub-zero temperatures.
Lieutenant Meeker has also been active in training new firefighters on the island and then instructing them at the State Fire Academy in North Bend. This fall, she will be attending a class at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland called Community Education Leadership.
Since she joined the department, Meeker has taught fire safety to children in the preschools and the elementary school. Her two daughters Kaylen, 6, and Kendra, 4, have become fire safety advocates themselves and often join her when she teaches.
Holly's family moved to Stuart Island in 1976. She attended school there and is a graduate of Friday Harbor High School.
Frank Chaffee, February Firefighter of the Month
posted 02/25/01
Frank Chaffee who has extensive background as a firefighter, firefighting instructor and as an emergency medical technician is San Juan Island Fire Department's Firefighter of the Month.
Frank's career in firefighting started in 1972, when he was hired as a seasonal firefighter with the California Department of Forestry. He worked as a firefighter for 13 years in California, supervising forestry youth crews with the California Conservation Corp at Humboldt Fire Center.
Frank moved to Friday Harbor in 1986 and started volunteering with Station 35 at Roche Harbor; then moved to Station 34 at Sunset Point where he served as lieutenant. He is now the Captain of Station 36 at Eaglecrest.
He is also an EMT with the San Juan Aid Unit and Safety Officer with the San Juan Island Fire Department. He has received awards in the past for EMT of the Year, Firefighter of the Year and Officer of the Year.
Dawn Baireuther, January Firefighter of the Month
posted 01/14/01
Volunteer firefighter Dawn Baireuther is the January firefigher of the month for San Juan County Fire District No. 1. Besides her work as a firefighter during the past decade, she has also been active in San Juan Island Firefighter Association.
"I'm proud to be a firefighter and proud of the job that the Association does," Dawn said. "The Association is there for firefighters in need and it's there for support."
She has served as the association's treasurer, president and now vice president. The biggest single event sponsored by the Association is the annual awards banquet recognizing firefighters for the past year of service.
"We are very fortunate to have Dawn with us," said Chief Bill McLaughlin. "The work Dawn does with the Association is important to the firefighters' morale."
The association members ask merchants throughout San Juan Island to donate gifts and services for door prizes. Baireuther says she is very grateful for their generosity year after year.
Baireuther and her husband, Bair, are caretakers of Brown Island in charge of home security, pool maintenance and transportation to the ferry docks. They serve with Jan and Hector Cyre as the four firefighters assigned to the Brown Island Fire Station.
A native Australian, she married Bair in 1987 when he was in the Navy. They lived in Oahu for four years and then moved to San Juan Island, where they have served as firefighters for the past 10 years.
Ron Garner: December Firefighter of the Month
posted 12/09/00
Carol Garner photo
Photographer Ron Garner is the volunteer of the month for the San Juan Island Fire Department.
"Ron has given us countless hours of his time taking photos and perfecting them on his computer," said Chief Bill McLaughlin. "He documents our many activities with the quality work of a professional. We are extremely fortunate to have him working with us."
Ron has also been involved developing a support team to assist firefighters and has been writing and coordinating monthly newspaper articles.
In addition, he and his wife Carol have also worked for the fire department as firefighters, public information officers and newsletter writers.
Ron says about his fire photography, "My purpose is to analyze the attack on a fire, to document occurrences, to help determine causes and to record the good things firefighters do."
Ron, also a seasonal national park ranger, donates his time demonstrating historical trades such as blacksmithing, coopering, carpentry and log hewing.
Dave Smith: November firefighter of the month
posted 12/09/00
Dave Smith, a volunteer for nearly 10 years and captain of Station 33, is the Firefighter of the Month for San Juan Island Fire Department.
"Dave has been out in the neighborhoods talking to residents about fire department services and improving the image of the department," said Chief Bill McLaughlin. "Dave really could have won this recognition three months in a row for all he has done."
In addition, Dave has gone out of his way to improve the condition of his station, while building camaraderie among the other firefighters, McLaughlin said.
Smith moved to the island from Michigan, where he helped save a house by using a fire extinguisher to put out burning curtains. That's when he became interested in firefighting. He works for the Town of Friday Harbor and at King's part time.
