Hoodland Fire adds to ranks

District also needs volunteers

By Garth Guibord

The Sandy Post, Nov 7, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

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The Hoodland Fire District hired two new firefighter paramedics; Eric Macy, 28, of Culver and Joe Schwab, 39, of Estacada, raising the total number of paid firefighters to eight. Fire Chief Mic Eby said he expected the new pair to start their positions Friday, Nov. 16.

“I truly believe that these two individuals are going to be able to blend in with the Hoodland Fire culture very well,” Eby said. “Each department has their own culture; we’re close to snow and snowboarders and (we have) the strange phenomenon of what happens when the snow arrives.”

“I think it’s a huge step for us; it will certainly help with the coverage,” said Bob Reeves, a fire district board member. “Eventually it should give us one more person on each shift.”

Schwab has volunteered with the Estacada Fire District for the past five years and currently works as a firearms instructor for the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. He’s had experience fighting fires in Keizer and St. Helens and also worked with ambulances.

“We all know how tight a community Hoodland is and what an important role that district plays in the community,” said Schwab, who is a graduate of Sandy High School. “A lot of folks up there I went to high school with. This is a chance to come home for me.”

Macy has worked for the Warm Springs Fire and Safety Department for the past three years, and he started his career in firefighting as a volunteer with the Jefferson County Fire District in 2000. He gained some exposure to the Hoodland area when he worked for the Forest Service and spent a month in Zig Zag.

“I think it will be pretty similar (to Warm Springs),” Macy said. “The only difference is it’s a wetter climate. We both have the highway.”

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