Toledo hires 3 new firefighters/EMTs

Toledo Fire Department, aka Lewis County Fire District #2, has hired three new firefighters/EMTs to help the city. With each community growing, it is important to have the services available to the residents who live there. Being a part of a community is a unique feeling, but being a part of a community with pride is a gift. Toledo is just that community, one with pride and a sense that we all need to work together. The citizens of Toledo voted for the new firefighters/EMTs. Now service is available around the clock; another show of Toledo coming together.

Toledo Fire Department's Chief Dorothy who has been with Toledo for many years stated, "I am pleased to announce that as of Monday August 1, our fire department has a firefighter/ EMT on duty 24/7 at the station. Never in our history have we had the ability to provide this round-the-clock service to our community. When it comes to emergency response, every minute counts, and now we have the opportunity to close that gap even more from the moment we get the call to when we arrive on scene. Currently we have three full time firefighter/ EMT employees, a full time fire chief and approximately 15 Volunteers. LCFD #2 would like to say 'thank you' to our citizens for their overwhelming support that's given to us."

The follow are the interviews with the new firefighters/EMTs:

Chris Montalvo

What prior experience do you have?

I have been an active EMT for about two and a half years. I started to volunteer with Lewis County Fire District #5 last year to obtain structural/wildland fire experience. I attended Thurston Fire Academy graduating as a firefighter in December 2021.

Why did you decide to join Toledo FD?

My previous chief told me that Toledo would be a good opportunity for me to get some experience under my belt. I also wanted to stay local to Lewis County because I like to operate in this 911 system and be close to my family.

What do you want to tell the citizens about you?

All I have ever wanted to do is help others in need and I am excited to answer that call for the citizens of Toledo.

Brandon Richey

What prior experience do you have?

I have been volunteering since I was 16 years old. I have 2 and a half years EMS experience at AMR ambulance. I spent 1 year working part-time for South Thurston Fire and EMS in Tenino. Now happily employed full-time with Toledo Fire.

Why did you decide to join Toledo FD?

I joined Toledo Fire to go outside of my comfort zone of where I have been spending most of my career working in Fire and EMS. I wanted to experience a new department, new community and new challenges.

What do you want to tell the citizens about you?

I like to work on/build cars/trucks in my free time, and race them as well. I also workout and swim frequently. I'm so excited to meet you all (hopefully outside of 911 calls). Certifications: IFSAC Firefighter 1 and 2. WA state EMT license, Hazmat awareness and operations. Incident Safety Officer. EVIP driving. Tactical considerations for Structure Fires. NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800.

Tom Koenig

What prior experience do you have?

I started in the fire service when I was 16 years old. I became a volunteer firefighter at LCFD #8, Salkum Fire Department, to start gaining some exposure to know if it was a career I was interested in. Both my parents were and are currently volunteer firefighters/EMTs at Salkum. Then in my senior year of high school I took the EMT course at Centralia College and as soon as I turned 18, I took the NREMT and became a nationally certified EMT. With that I went up to Fairbanks, Alaska, where I enrolled in the fire science program earning my AAS in fire science after a year. During that time I also went to a fire academy there earning my firefighter 1, firefighter 2, and HAZMAT Ops/awareness certification. I also was hired as a full time firefighter/ EMT at University Fire Department where I worked for a little over a year. After I came back to Washington, I was hired at AMR in Centralia where I still work, now just part time. I also joined Riverside Fire Authority as a Volunteer since I work closely with them when at AMR.

Why did you decide to join Toledo FD?

I decided to apply to Toledo Fire Department for a couple reasons. One is because with the rapid growth up and down the I-5 corridor, I believe that Toledo is a very exciting place to start at now while it's just now becoming staffed with full time firefighters. I am excited to be able to have a hand in shaping a department and its culture. I also have close ties with the people with this community and love feeling involved. I also believe that Toledo is a great place for a young firefighter/EMT like me to be able to learn and grow.

What do you want to tell the citizens about you?

I would like to tell the citizens of Toledo that I am very excited to start here as a full time firefighter/EMT. I am also very excited to be able to provide this new service of a full time 24/7 staff. I also want to say that I am very impressed and happy to see the support that Toledo Fire has from the community, and I know that Toledo Fire works hard to get out into the community and have a good relationship with its citizens. I look forward to working to continue that relationship and offer my best service.