Gaston Rural Fire District

Next time you see the Gaston Rural Fire District in action, remember that nearly everyone you see is a volunteer.

And some of those volunteers are full-time professional firefighters.

Confused?

It's pretty simple. Most of the folks you see out there risking their lives work as log truck drivers, contractors or some other profession to earn a living.

Four of the volunteers, however, are firefighters for neighboring districts when they're not helping out here.

Take Steve Klaus, for example. He's a lieutentant and paramedic for the Hillsboro Fire Department.

Trevor Herb also is a lieutentant, over in Washington County Fire District 2.

Mark Evans? A professional firefighter in Hillsboro.

Justin Mesenbrink is an engineer at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue.

Seth Hedin and James Hoodenpyl work in fire-suppression for the Oregon Department of Forestry.

For real confusion, try Billy Tuning. Started as a volunteer in Gaston, then professional firefighter, now a professional firefighter for Fire District 2 and a volunteer for Gaston Fire in his time off.

On the medical-emergency side of things, we have Mitch Watson, who is a paramedic with American Medical Response, and Randy Hoodenpyl, an emergency medical technician/basic with Metro West Ambulance.

Clay Davis comes to Gaston after more than 22 years at the Forest Grove Fire Department, where he rose to the position of Lieutenant.

Justin's dad, Roger Mesenbrink, is the Chief in Gaston. He's been a professional firefighter for ... well, since 1966. He worked for District 2 and was a Battalion Chief for the Hillsboro Fire Department. And what did he do in his spare time while working for Hillsboro? He worked for Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue.

Brad Shinpaugh, when not working for Gaston Fire, volunteers for Fire District 2.

Besides being on call here for emergencies, these folks also spend almost every Monday night (and a lot of other time) passing along their training and knowledge to the rest of the volunteers.

So next time you see the Gaston Rural Fire District personnel, remember that they're nearly all volunteers.

Very professional volunteers.