The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District named Alex Donahue its Firefighter of the Year Thursday evening at its annual awards dinner.
Donahue is a resident volunteer on the Fire and Ambulance District’s B shift, led by Battalion Chief Shannon Pettner with paramedics Zach Lincoln and Josh Bondesen.
“Alex is very, I would say, self-motivated and ambitious,” said Fire Chief Dave Barringer. “He looks for things to do around here that maybe aren’t the most fun projects.”
A week earlier, Donahue worked on inventory, which is not something anyone around the Fire Hall enjoys, Barringer said. He created a useful and upgradeable system for it.
He’s among the district’s group of most technologically literate personnel, and with them, helps improve efficiency wherever they work in the organization, the chief said.
He’s good at the day-to-day business, and he communicates things he sees as problems, Barringer said. He provides solutions, and he presents them well.
That’s just around the Fire Hall, he said. “Then there’s the other side. He’s a great firefighter.”
On fires, he’s aggressive and safety conscious, Barringer said, although he’s more concerned about the safety of others rather than himself. He went through eight bottles of oxygen, moving from one fatal fire to another in one morning last year.
“That’s pretty tough,” Barringer said. “He’s mentally tough. He’s physically tough. He’s a go-getter. He will be the one that goes and gets it done. He doesn’t leave anything for anybody else to do.”
Donahue is also good-natured and fun to be around, Barringer said.
When he’s on a fire, “you know the fire’s going to go well,” said paramedic-firefighter Zach Lincoln as he presented the award. Donahue is calm and competent with anything anyone asks of him.
Donahue, 22, has been with the Fire and Ambulance District for 3½ years. He has served under three battalion chiefs: Doug Emmert, Ken Weld and now Pettner.
He is from Las Vegas originally, he said. Seven years ago, his family moved to Dallas, where his father was in the fire service for Polk County. Kevin Pettner of Sweet Home works there too, and that’s where Donahue learned about a vacant position in Sweet Home.
“My dad’s worked in the fire service over 35 years,” Donahue said.
His grandfather was a police officer in Chicago, Donahue said, and his brother is testing for a police officer position in Las Vegas.
“It’s just in the family,” Donahue said, and his preference is fire and ambulance.
He said he likes the feeling he gets when he’s able to help someone out. “The community puts so much into you, it’s like giving back.”
The award was “awesome,” he said, but he credits his co-workers for his success in the fire service.
“I wouldn’t be here without the guys on my crew,” he said. That includes the battalion chiefs, Lincoln and Bondesen, with all they have taught Donahue. The award goes to all of them too, Donahue said.
He plans to enter paramedic school at Chemeketa Community College in Salem on March 30. He will continue working at SHFAD during the nine-month program and then begin looking for a career job.
In other awards, Barringer presented Administrative Assistant Julie Mayfield the award for Employee of the Year. Mayfield joined the district in June.
“You do a great job,” Barringer said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better. I can’t ask for anything more.”
She is a hard worker and multi-tasker, Barringer said. She is energetic and enthusiastic with an infectious laugh. She is detail-oriented and “remembers what I need to do.” She is involved in many community events.
EMS Chief Shannon Pettner presented the Medic of the Year award to Josh Starha.
Firefighter Greg Mahler presented the Engineer of the Year award to Dennis Huenergardt.
Acting Battalion Chief Eli Harris presented the Officer of the Year award to Lincoln.
Battalion Chief Guy Smith presented the Pride and Ownership Award to Lincoln, who takes pride and ownership in everything he does.
Barringer awarded the Keith Gabriel Humanitarian Award to the late Pat McCollum and and his wife, Ival McCollum.
“This man, and his wife, has made a difference in our community,” Barringer said. They both “have done amazing things. They have given, and they have given, and they have given. I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done for the district.”
In other business, Smith recognized Harris for 10 years of service to the district.
Smith recognized volunteers Doug Shank for 119 hours of training and 105 hours of response time and Wes Strubhar for 149 hours of training and 38 hours of response time.
Among resident volunteers, Donahue trained 190 hours with 111 hours of response time. Christian Whitfield accrued 184 hours of training with 169 hours of response time.
Among paid staff, Bondesen accrued 154 hours of training and 94 hours of response time, while Harris trained for 170 hours with 98 hours of response time.
For the paid staff, Smith said the response time is not accurate, but the problem tracking that statistic has been corrected for future reports.