Current News and Happenings at Forest Grove Fire & Rescue

This year was the third year that Forest Grove Firefighters particpated in what was the 16th annual event, billed as the largest firefighter competition in the world.    

Competing in the Scott Stair Climb meant that our firefighters climbed the stairs of the Columbia Tower, which stands 788 feet overlooking downtown Seattle, and is the second tallest building west of the Mississippi. Firefighters competing in this event will climb a total of 69 floors or 1,311 steps wearing the same full protective "turnout" equipment that they use when entering a burning building.

FGF&R Individual Results

Chad Bettencourt 15 minutes 13 seconds
Keith Baas 20 minutes 03 seconds
Ben Langbehn 22 minutes 19 seconds
Will Murphy 21 minutes 43 seconds
Joe Smith 26 minutes 18 seconds
Rick Ilg 27 minutes 05 seconds
Mindy Ingebretson 27 minutes 15 seconds
Jason Lawson 28 minutes 28 seconds
Joe Olson 35 minutes 47 seconds
Brooke Brown 36 minutes 02 seconds
Tony Carter 38 minutes 17 seconds

Intern Firefighter Chad Bettencourt finished 62 overall out of the 1,311 total firefighters from around the world who entered this years' event.  Chad also finished 8th in his age division of 20 to 24 year old males.  Volunteer Firefighter Mindy Ingebretson finished first in her age division of 20 to 24 year old females.  Firefighters practiced for months leading up to the event, climbing the stairwells of buildings in downtown Portland on their own time to prepare for the physical and mental demands of this grueling event.

Most importantly the team from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue raised over 1,500 dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  This year our firefighters entered a friendly competition with our neighbors at the Cornelius Fire Department to see who could raise the most money for the fight against blood cancers.  Firefighters from Cornelius also raised over 1,400 dollars, raising our two team total to almost 3,000 dollars raised in a group effort to battle blood cancers, which are a significant killer of firefighters nationwide.

For more information about this years event check out the official website by clicking here 

The Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Firefighter's Association held its' annual Awards and Appreciation Banquet at the Forest Grove Elks Lodge on Saturday April 19.  During this year's events firefighters were honored and recognized for their achievements and service to the community over the course of the last year. 

Firefighter of the Year for 2007 was awarded to Volunteer Engineer Dallas Boge from the Gales Creek Station.  Engineer Boge is one of the most dedicated volunteers at the Gales Creek Station where his availability during all times of the day allowed him to respond to over 87 calls in 2007 as the top responder for his station.  Engineer Boge also has dedicated considerable hours of his own time to support the operations of the all volunteer Gales Creek Station, including maintaining station grounds and equipment, and assisting with community events in the Gales Creek area.  Every spring Engineer Boge provides his tree farm property so that new firefighters can conduct wild land firefighting training in as realistic situation as possible. 

Officer of the Year for 2007 was awarded to Volunteer Lieutenant Stephen Prichard.  Lieutenant Prichard was recognized for his leadership at the Gales Creek Station and his dedication and commitment to the Gales Creek community as well as to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue.  In 2007 Lieutenant Prichard responded to 52 calls at the Gales Creek Station, making him the 3rd highest responder at that Station in 2007.  Lieutenant Prichard also assisted with numerous other department activities such as the annual Fill the Boot Fundraiser for MDA, first aid stand-by at public events like the annual Verboort Sausage Dinner, and provided fire and EMS coverage in Columbia County during the tragic floods that ravaged Vernonia in December.   

The Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Meritorious Service Award was presented to Chief Ian O'Connor, Lieutenants Dwight Lanter and David Morris, Lead Firefighter Tad Buckingham, Firefighter/Paramedic Ted Penge, and Firefighters Keith Baas and Mindy Ingebretson.  This award recognizes the outstanding service provided by these individuals from the Forest Grove Fire Station on May 12, 2007 when they were called to the scene of a cardiac arrest.  Within four minutes of arriving on scene and starting Advanced Life Support Care the patient regained a pulse and after being transported, was released from the hospital a short time after.

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue is extremely proud of our firefighters and their service to the community.  Congratulations to these firefighters for going above and beyond in their commitment to provide first class service to our City and Rural communities in 2007.