Capt. Ken Colombo holds his 2018 Washington State Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year plaque with his wife, Loretta, Riverside Chief Mike Kytta, right, and Riverside Captain Erik Olson, left.
Mossyrock Fire Chief Doug Fosburg, left, and Paul Peterson accept the 2018 Washington State Fire House of the Year Award from WSFFA Past-President T.J. Nedrow.
Photo Caption: Capt. Jeanine Armstrong receives her EMS Responder of the Year award from previous award winner Lewis County FD 6 Capt. Julie Johnston.
Capt. Ken Colombo of the Riverside Fire Authority was recently recognized by a state association as 2018 Fire Officer of the Year.
Lewis County Fire Crews cleaned up at the awards portion of the 95th annual Washington State Firefighters Association conference Sunday night in Wenatchee.
Lewis County Fire District 3 in Mossyrock took the top honor, winning the 2018 Washington State Fire House of the Year award.
“This award recognizes model volunteer fire departments in Washington,” according to a news release from the Association. “Mossyrock was cited for its excellent leadership, dedicated volunteers and relationship with the community the department serves.”
Mossyrock Fire Chief Doug Fosburg accepted the award.
Association Past President T.J. Nedrow commented at the conference the award is a “reflection of leadership that puts the volunteers first,” according to a press release.
Recently retired Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Ken Colombo was named 2018 Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year Sunday night. Colombo retired in 2014 but has continued to volunteer with the RFA.
“Captain Colombo is a highly valued member of our department and our community,” according to a media release from the RFA. “His unwavering commitment and contributions to recruitment, training, fire investigations, juvenile fire-setter counseling, fire/injury prevention and emergency response have now been recognized statewide.”
Colombo started as a volunteer with then-Lewis County Fire District 12 in 1974 and 10 years later became a full-time firefighter, his career for 30 years.
According to his nomination for the honor, “During his entire career and volunteer service, Captain Colombo has served the department and the citizens it protects with his continued involvement in fire training, recruitment, fire prevention, and leadership.”
Capt. Jeanine Armstrong, who volunteers with both Lewis County Fire District 18 in Glenoma and Fire District 9 in Mineral, was named the State Volunteer EMS Responder of the Year.
“Armstrong is the training officer for both departments, an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, and in the last year earned her Senior EMS Instructor certification to teach EMT classes,” according to a press release from the state Firefighters Association. “Students in her first class achieved a 100 percent passing rate on state and national registry exams.”
Armstrong also teaches CPR and first aid to citizens in East Lewis County.
“She has dedicated herself to the fire service and is willing to do what is necessary to provide firefighters and EMS personnel the training they need to be successful and safe on incidents,” said Glenoma Assistant Chief Phil Congdon in Armstrong’s nomination.
