BELLEVUE FIREFIGHTERS RETIREE PAGE

This page is dedicated to the retired members of IAFF Local 1604. It is designed to serve as an information/posting sight for those members. News on retirements and other related events will be provided here. If you are a retired member of IAFF Local 1604, your input, photos, and stories are both sought and welcome on this page. We'd love to hear what's up and what you are up to.

Recent Retirees

Firefighter/Engineer Bruce Baker retired in July 0f 2010. Bruce served many years with the Bellevue Fire Department, much of it at Fire Station 6 with the haz mat team. Congratulations Bruce!

Fire Lieutenant Joe Franco retired in April of 2010. After an amazing 41 years with the Bellevue Fire Department, Joe has retired. Congratulations Joe!

Firefighter Dean Kalles retired on March, 2010. After 27 years service with the Bellevue Fire Department, Dean has retired. Dean also served as a firefighter the USAF prior to his service with Bellevue. Congratulations Dean!

Battalion Chief Mike Daily retired in March, 2010. Chief Daily's last assignment was Battalion 1. Congratulations Chief!

Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Hess retired in December 2009. Mike began his career September 1st, 1974.  As soon as we have a retirement dinner date it will be announced here. Congratulations Mike!

 Battalion Chief Jim Dorney retired December 2009 after 35 years in the fire service. As soon as we have a retirement dinner date it will be announced here. Congratulations Chief!

Congratulations to Fire Engineer Henry Lombard (Engine 1: A Platoon), Fire Engineer Celia Castle (Engine 8: B-Platoon), and Firefighter Beth Murphy (Engine 6: B-Platoon) on their respective retirements from the Bellevue Fire Department. Henry served an amazing 36 years with the department, Celia an impressive 30 years, and Beth 12 years (she left to open her own psychology practice). All three of these excellent people will be dearly missed. Their retirement party was held September 18th. It was a great time for all who attended.

Other Retirements in the last couple years...

Congratulations to Firefighter/Paramedic Dean Brookes (Medic 1: A Platoon), Fire Engineer Celia Castle (Engine 8: B Platoon), Fire Prevention Officer Diana Cochran*, Fire Prevention Officer Steve Chisholm*, Firefighter/Paramedic Keith Collop (Medic 1: B-Platoon), Firefighter Lisa Fite (Engine 5: C-Platoon), Fire Engineer Henry Lombard (Engine 1: A Platoon), Firefighter Beth Murphy (Engine 6: B-Platoon), Fire Lieutenant Mark Musch (Ladder 3: B-Platoon), and Captain John Stuckey (Engine 2: C-Platoon) on their retirements from the Bellevue Fire Department. 

*Fire Prevention Officers' Cochran and Chisholm were furloughed due to the current economic crisis in the nation. Chisholm volunteered to take the furlough to save one of the other younger Inspectors. Local 1604 worked to save these positions, but the unique funding models used by the department to fund some of the inspectors prevented any realistic actions. We were very sorry to see both of these fine individuals go, and hope, if it remains in their wishes, that an upturn in the economy will bring them back soon.

Passings

-Retired Firefighter/Paramedic Richard "Skip" Sands

-Retired Fire Lieutenant Ronald Cummings

-Retired Battalion Chief Vern Vinup

-Retired Fire Captain Charles "Chuck" McDougald

-Retired Firefighter/Paramedic Bud Ford

A rich History...

Bellevue Firefighters in decades past...

     Bellevue Firefighters at old Fire Station 1              The first Bellevue Fire Medic Unit (1972)

   Bellevue Firefighters in their dress uniforms include:      Bellevue FF/Paramedics practice 1973

   Leo Winter, Larry Coleman, Gary Thomier, John               Filipe Sales is holding the IV bottle

   Witherspoon, Dan Sterling, Ken and Dave McAllister.

Bellevue Firefighters in the mid 1970's    Bellevue Firefighters including Jim Flick, Greg Nelson,

including (L-R) Mike Hess, Bruce              Jeanette Woldseth (first professional female FF in WA),

Douglas, and Henry Lombard                    and Mark Aguilar (Mark is still on the line) in front of the

                                                                          old Engine 1 (apparatus #110) in 1978

Bellevue Firefighters entertain a basset hound include:

Paul Paylor (still on the line), Doug Austin, Bob Roberts,

Vern Vinup, and Stan Pallo.

1923 Ship Fire on Bellevue's Meydenbaur Bay. The ship is the "Fresno". The rumor that Joe Franco was on this incident is NOT correct!