Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is honored to have a committed team of 44 volunteers providing valuable services to our community.
The District took time Saturday night to recognize our volunteers during an appreciation banquet at the Tualatin Country Club. In the past year, TVF&R volunteers responded to more than 260 incidents and attended more than 70 community events.
As part of the annual appreciation celebration on April 11, TVF&R presented awards for Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year, Community Leadership of the Year, Volunteer Leadership of the Year, and the Terry Lowrie Volunteer of the Year.
Ken Lauderback was the recipient of the Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year Award for his work getting our antique 1904 Nott steam fire engine running to perfection. For the past year and a half, Lauderback invested significant time, effort and passion into the project, including purchasing a custom internal chimney and getting the Nott steamer recertified.
The District honored Mike Berry with the Community Leadership of the Year Award for his contributions to fire and life safety through education, public relations, and public service. Berry, a longtime supporter of the Portland Stairclimb, partnered with organizers of the event, the Portland chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Firehouse Subs to launch a new fundraising event to benefit the foundation. He also helped promote a Fire Dash obstacle race, which benefited the National Fallen Firefighter Fund, and recently accepted a leadership role as acting lieutenant of Volunteer Station 350.
The Volunteer Leadership of the Year Award went to Capt. Nick Ross, who has served as a TVF&R volunteer for 10 years. Ross spent countless hours preparing the volunteer cadre for the upcoming apparatus changes, managing personnel, ensuring crew safety, setting clear expectations for volunteer crews, and forging a strong partnership with the career crew at Station 50. In the past decade, Ross has emerged as a devoted leader who consistently goes above and beyond what is asked of him.
Steve Moran earned the Terry Lowrie Volunteer of the Year Award. This award honors a future leader within the volunteer ranks who consistently serves as a role model for fellow volunteers. Moran, who was named Rookie of the Year in 2014, provided reliable service with Station 350 while responding to several commercial and residential fires in the past year. He also ensured rig checks were completed and that apparatus and gear remained frontline ready. In addition to his paramedic studies and volunteer duties, he also participated in the Portland Stairclimb, Fire Dash and Seattle Stairclimb.
The appreciation banquet and awards ceremony took place on the eve of National Volunteer Week (April 12-18) and served as an opportunity to recognize and thank all of TVF&R’s volunteers who provide outstanding service to the District and the communities we serve.