As the sun sets on one marvelous career, it rises on another at Forest Grove Fire & Rescue

FF Dwight Lanter (left) and Lt Gary Maxwell (right) C Shift 1986

 

The year was 1985, Ronald Reagan was President, you could buy a ticket to the new Michael J. Fox "Back to the Future" movie for $2.75, and a gallon of gas cost $1.09 at the pump where you still had to say leaded or unleaded.  At that same time, a young Dwight Lanter put on the baby blue uniform, climbed on a bright green fire engine, and began his fire service career as a full time firefighter with FGF&R.  Bringing with him years of experience as  an intern with the Astoria Fire Department, and a volunteer with the neighboring Cornelius Fire Department, the home grown boy from the family farm south of town who built fire engines for local company Western States Fire Apparatus, was a perfect fit to be Forest Grove's newest firefighter.  Over nearly three decades, Dwight's career blossomed as he went through the ranks, serving at one time as the Department's Training Officer and finally as a Shift Captain.  On July 1, 2013, the sun sets on an honorable twenty-eight years of serving the community where he was raised, and where he raised his own family (his son's are both currently involved in the fire service), for Captain Dwight Lanter when he retires from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue.

Captain Dwight Lanter 2013

Looking back on Dwight's career, his firefighters shared fond memories of a man who was more then a coworker, but also a mentor and friend along the way.  "When I came here from Polk County he made sure I knew about the community of Forest Grove and the history of this department, he's like an uncle to me" said Ted Penge, who currently works as one of Dwight's firefighters on C Shift.  Another C Shift Firefighter, Brad Shinpaugh, added "This is a guy that I have always looked up to, as a new firefighter he would reinforce me with positive comments, and this is something that I try to carry on with our new people."  Lieutenant Tony Carter echoes Dwight's ability to mentor over the years: "He literally feels like my third dad, when I came here as a straight out of high school teenager in our resident volunteer program, Dwight helped me tremendously to understand that being a quality firefighter is as much about compassion for your community as it is about fire hoses and ladders."  

    

FGF&R's newest paid firefighter, Jordan Ruiz

Even though the sun is setting on one firefighter's career, it's starting to shine brightly for the start of another, as current FGF&R Intern Jordan Ruiz begins working full time on July 1st.  Jordan, a 27 year old native of San Jose, California, is another pick from the current crop of volunteers and interns for the department from over the nearly 100 applicants in a hiring process that began last fall.  Jordan moved to Portland with his girlfriend Kellen while she completed her nursing degree program at University of Portland; himself a graduate of Santa Clara University with a bachelors degree in biology, he currently holds certification as an Oregon Paramedic and will add another advanced life support responder, as well as a fluent Spanish speaker, to our staff.  When asked how Jordan felt about coming to work full time, he talked about the positive family atmosphere at FGF&R and how family is one of the most important things to him.  In fact, his eyes shined brightly as he related joyous stories of traditional Italian holidays making over 300 homemade ravioli with his entire family.  It's not all about that wonderful Italian food for this young man however, who as a high school student competed in the Colt Baseball World Series, defeating the Puerto Rico team to win the championship round; Jordan remains physically active and recently competed in an Iron-man Triathlon competition.  "It's tough to lose three decades of experience with Dwight's retirement, but while we are wishing Dwight the best at the same time we are super excited to be able to add a quality young firefighter in Jordan to our firehouse family.  He's really an excellent fit for our department and will be an asset for the community for years to come." said Fire Chief Michael Kinkade.  Jordan is one of three new firefighters hired by the fire department in the last twelve months, where he joins Chad Toomey, and Cassie Knierim as the newest members of the department's shift response force.