It is with sadness that Fire Chief Deric Weiss shared the news that former Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Chaplain Dwight Douglas peacefully passed away Sunday morning from complications of COVID-19 and underlying conditions. Dwight was surrounded by his family in Missouri, who felt comforted by all the support they received from fire service friends and their church congregation.

Dwight spent decades counseling those in their most difficult times. In addition to his role at TVF&R, he was a Portland Fire & Rescue chaplain, the Oregon State Fire Chief's Association chaplain, a senior pastor for the Church of the Nazarene, director of operations at the Mid-American Church of the Nazarene, and co-creator of the Oregon State Post Traumatic Stress Team. 

"He had an incredibly resilient attitude, even as he endured two heart transplants," Chief Weiss said. "Dwight embodied noble traits that I have observed in many of our retirees and our current personnel including compassion, selflessness, wisdom, and a passion for serving others."

Though the past two years have proven challenging for many people, Chief Weiss added, "I remain hopeful that 2022 will improve and that we will make the most of our lessons while caring for each other in the way that Dwight nurtured so many."