Alex Paul
He’s a bundle of energy and excitement and last week, 21-year-old Devon Bowen was named Firefighter of the Year for the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District.
In just 16 months with the district, Bowen has earned the respect of those around him, from fellow firefighters to Chief Mike Beaver.
A Lebanon native, Bowen is a 2000 LUHS graduate who quickly found that firefighting is his passion.
Bowen attended the International Alert Academy in Tyler, Texas which is a military-style program that focuses solely on rescues and disaster relief.
“I loved it,” Bowen said. “We learned about every type of rescue: trench, swift water, high dive, you name it.”
Bowen also assisted the Miami Dade (Florida) dive squad in vehicle recoveries.
“The canals aren’t very deep, maybe 20 feet and people drive their cars into them to collect the insurance,” Bowen said. “It’s amazing how many of them there are every week.”
Returning to Oregon in 2002, Bowen joined the SHFAD as an intern, while he attends LBCC to become a firefighter/paramedic.
Why has he been so well accepted and respected in such a short time?
“I am a Christian and I stand up for what I believe,” Bowen said. “I don’t judge other people and I have high values for myself. I always try to look out for what’s best for the department.”
Bowen said that in addition to the fire and ambulance runs, he is active in a public awareness program run by the department for local schools.
“We’re teaching kids how to prevent fires, to make sure they have smoke detectors in their homes and to have an escape route plan,” Bowen said.
He also helps keep the inventory at the fire department and works on small engines there.
“I like going on calls because I like the interaction with people,” he said. “We are here to help people. There’s always plenty to do to keep us on our feet. This is a very good department that just keeps getting better. I really like working with the people here.”
Bowen said his long-term goal is to become an officer within the department.
“I want to stay in Sweet Home,” he said. “It’s the type of department where I would have a chance to grow, be myself but make a difference.”
Bowen attends the Salem First Baptist Church and plans to marry Lindsey Tatone of Salem in July.
Although he has very little free time, he enjoys snow boarding and archery hunting. His family still lives in Lebanon and includes one brother and two younger sisters.
“The job is actually more than I thought it was going to be,” Bowen said. “The interaction with those I work with make it more like a family and you learn to work together when you’re so tight, so close every day.’