LONGTIME VOLUNTEER JOINS THE FULL TIME STAFF RANKS AT FOREST GROVE FIRE & RESCUE

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue is pleased to announce that after an extensive testing and hiring process, Forest Grove resident and longtime volunteer firefighter Chad Toomey will be joining our ranks as a full time paid firefighter effective January 14, 2013. Chad had previously worked in our community where he was the director of the Outback in the Student Life program at Pacific University, and it was this work that indirectly drew him to the fire service. In 2008 Chad was looking for ways to re-certify as an emergency medical technician, as he thought that was a beneficial skill set to have when leading college students on outdoor adventures such as kayaking, and mountain biking. That need to receive up to date training in emergency medicine brought him to volunteer at Forest Grove Fire & Rescue where like so many others, what started as a side project quickly became a driving passion in Chad’s life. In the fall of 2012 after receiving a federal assistance to firefighters grant, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue had a career opening and Chad entered the competition against 100 other candidates from all over the United States. After achieving one of the top scores in the written examination, passing our physical abilities evaluation, and going through two sets of oral interviews, Chad was selected by Fire Chief Michael Kinkade as the top pick from a final pool of five candidates. 

An alumni of Pacific University, Chad and his wife Amy make their home, and are raising their young family right here in Forest Grove. For the last four years Chad has been an active volunteer member of Forest Grove Fire & Rescue where he was regularly one of the top volunteer responders, and consistently involved in the community projects of the Forest Grove Firefighter’s Association. Fluent in Spanish, Chad will be the first Spanish speaking employee at Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and he also brings experience as a certified child safety seat inspector to the community. Fire Chief Michael Kinkade had this to say about Chad: “We are definitely excited to add a person like Chad to our fire department family. He’s well liked and already respected in Forest Grove, and he brings a tremendous background of life experience that will be valuable to our work and a dynamic and engaging personality that will fit well in our staff and in our community.”

FGF&R's newest full time firefighter Chad Toomey

Chad’s first day as a full time firefighter will be Monday January 14, 2013. He will spend approximately one month working through a series of training programs that will help him make the switch from volunteer firefighter to a full time role. After that he will be assigned as one of the five staff members that make up each of the three 24 hour shifts at Forest Grove Fire & Rescue.