FEBRUARY 2, 2018, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
Keizer Fire presents awards
By DEREK WILEY
Of the Keizertimes
When the Keizer Fire Dis-
trict got back on the con-
fl agration list in 2017, Sean
Cummings led the way, serv-
ing as the engine boss on wild
fi res at Chetco Bar, Eagle
Creek and Napa, Calif.
He spent about two weeks
at each fi re. Chetco Bar and
Eagle Creek, according to the
United States Forest Service,
were at one point the No. 1
priority fi res in the nation.
KFD chief Jeff Cowan pre-
sented Cummings with Em-
ployee of the Year at the an-
nual district awards ceremony
on Monday, Jan. 22.
As much as he meant to
helping Keizer navigate fi ght-
ing wildland fi res, Cowan said
Cummings is also just an out-
standing guy.
“He had an immediate im-
pact on the organization and
he’s got a positive outlook on
life and the world,” Cowan
said. “When you get a stand-
ing ovation at the awards re-
ception from your fellow fi re-
fi ghters, that’s a big deal.”
Cummings grew up in
California, set to become a
teacher like his mom and sis-
ter. But while working in the
special education department
for a school district in Sacra-
mento, he spoke to a fi re cap-
tain on a 911 call, who con-
vinced him to switch paths
and enroll in the Regional
Fire Academy.
For a year, he continued
working in special education
during the day and trained to
become a fi refi ghter at night.
Cummings moved to Keizer
in 2013, following his girl-
friend, who graduated from
Willamette University.
He worked full-time for
the Beaverton school district
and then the Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry in the sum-
mers. He became a volunteer
fi refi ghter in Keizer at the end
of 2013 and then was hired as
a full-time career fi refi ghter
in 2015.
He was the only certifi ed
engine boss on staff when
Keizer Fire reported to its
fi rst wildfi re at Chetco Bar in
August. Cummings then went
to Eagle Creek in September
and Napa in October.
“I enjoy it because I’m so
used to it because that was
what my career was all sum-
mer,” Cumming said of fi ght-
ing wild fi res.
“But it was hard on my
girlfriend. She’s the most un-
derstanding person and totally
supports everything, which
made it easy.”
Cummings went to Napa
with a crew of three other
Keizer fi refi ghters, one of
which was a battalion chief
and another was a captain.
But since Cummings had the
most experience dealing with
wildfi res, he led the effort.
“For wildland since I had
the certifi cation, I had to be
put in the role where I was the
offi cer,” said Cummings, who
is 29 years old. “It was kind of
a weird dynamic, especially as
a young fi refi ghter. I felt like
I handled it well. I was super
open with my communica-
tion and I’ve heard nothing
but good things said to me.
It made me feel good that
the district feels comfortable
enough in me and my expe-
rience that they were willing
to let me go out there as our
Submitted
Sean Cummings, a full-time career fi refi ghter in Keizer since 2015, was named Employee of the Year at the district’s award cer-
emony on Monday, Jan. 22. Cummings responded to wildfi res at Chetco Bar, Eagle Creek and Napa, Calif.
engine boss.”
Employee of the Year is
voted on by the district’s cap-
tains.
“None of us are truly com-
fortable receiving accolades
or awards because we’re just
doing our job. But it always
feels nice to be recognized for
doing a good job,” Cummings
said.
KFD also gave the Volun-
teer Firefi ghter of the Year to
John Fowler; EMT of the Year
to Jacob Brinlee and Rookie
of the Year to Matt Miller.
Noah Murayma responded to
the most alarms in 2017.
Ryan Russell was honored
for his 15 years of service. Jar-
ed Caruth, Chris Waldrop and
Christina Wilson were ac-
knowledged for their 10 years
of service. Andrew Alderson,
Vickey Dosier and Aaron Pit-
tis received fi ve years of ser-
vice awards.
Submitted
Keizer Fire Chief Jeff Cowan gave fi refi ghter/EMT Noah Murayma a plaque for responding to
the most alarms in 2017.
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