Central Pierce Fire & Rescue
Peer Support Team (Alphabetical by Last Name)
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Kurt Allen
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I retired from CPFR in May 2018 after 31 years of working with some of the best people and great friends. I lucked out when I married my wife of 32 years, Laura. We have a son who is now grown and on his own. I enjoy hunting and fishing or just being out in nature.
We spend our entire career taking care of others, I’m honored to be on a team that is, Brothers and Sisters, taking care of our own. That’s the way it should be. |
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Mike Bellerive
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I started my fire service career in 2007 with the Puyallup Fire Department after working 10 years for the Seattle SuperSonics. After merging with Central Pierce Fire & Rescue I have worked primarily on the West side of the district. I am a peer fitness instructor and am in charge of fitness equipment for the district. I live in Gig Harbor with my wife Lindsay, and sons Mac and Bo. In my spare time I like to work out, get outside and all things football (especially the Pittsburgh Steelers).
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Blue Best
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I live in Gig Harbor with my lovely wife Carisa and our three daughters. I began my fire service career in Sunriver, Oregon in 1995 where I was a resident and then a paid firefighter for a short time before I was hired with Puyallup Fire Department in 1998. I currently work as a Lieutenant on an engine company for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue.
Away from work I love to spend time outdoors with my family and friends. My daughters have all taken up mountain biking and skiing along with variety of other sports which has kept our family busy. When I get a chance, I also love to spend a little time fishing. After 20+ years in the fire service I have seen and experienced cumulative stress that our profession can place on our work and personal lives. I am honored to be available as a member of the peer support team. If anyone finds themselves in a spot where they would like to talk, I am always available, day or night. |
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David Bragg
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I was hired in the fire service in 2008. I’ve been married to my best friend Grace for 12 years and we have a 4-year old daughter that keeps us quite busy! I love nearly all forms of physical activity, especially if it involves the outdoors.
In my short 9 years I’ve been humbled and impressed by the cumulative grind that the rigors of the fire service has on its members. It’s quite apparent that staying healthy and happy needs to be an intentional effort and I’m very grateful to be a part of an organization like CPFR that is fiercely committed to taking care of its members though such programs as the peer fitness program and this peer support group. If you ever catch yourself feeling like you’re struggling under a burden by yourself, please don’t hesitate to call or text any time, as I’d be honored to help any way I can. |
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Mark Clayton
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I've been married for 25 years to my wife Kellene and we have two awesome teenage daughters, Shelby (17) and Addison (15). I started in the fire service in 1992 as a volunteer with Mountain View Fire. I then became paid in 1997 with them, and then in 2000 went to Puyallup Fire which is now part of Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. I love the outdoors, and sports like soccer, motocross, mountain biking, golf, camping, fishing, skiing, jeeping and just about anything that is outdoors and adventurous. I've lost a brother to muscular dystrophy and a mother to cancer, and am now caring for my 85 year-old father. Currently outside of work, I'm involved in health & nutrition coaching along with all of my girls sports. I live up at Lake Tapps on Driftwood Point. If you’re having a hard time, maybe I can help. Contact me any time.
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Wes Courtney
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I started with CPFR January 1998. I live in the Bonney Lake area. I have been married for 18 years and have 2 teenage daughters. I enjoy fishing, board and video games, and camping but I am down for just about anything.
Feel free to contact me at any time. I am always available to talk. |
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Ray Escobedo
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I started in the fire service in September 2000 with the City of San Marino in CA. I was hired by Puyallup Fire & Rescue in 2005 as a lateral Firefighter/Paramedic. We merged with Central Pierce Fire & Rescue in 2009, and I was promoted to Lieutenant/Paramedic in 2013. In May of 2017 I was promoted to Captain. I have been a Hazmat team member since 2007, and have been a part of WATF-1 as a Hazmat Tech and now as Hazmat Manager. I was deployed in OSO for 21 days, during the mudslide recovery mission.
I live in Gig Harbor with my wife and two teenage sons. I enjoy pretty much anything outdoors, and love working out. I am available to talk anytime day or night. |
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Wayne Garden
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
Wayne J. Garden born in Chicago, went into military at age 17. Served in Korea, Viet Nam. When discharge from service was hired by Parkland Fire Dept (Pierce County District 6) as 6th paid person. At that time Fire Department was mostly volunteer and residents. As Fire Dept. grew rose to rank of A.C. in charge of Operations, EMS, Training and Volunteer program. Through the merger of Pierce County Fire 6, 7, 9. Demoted to Battalion Chief sent to "A" shirt, emotion due to many staff chiefs. Stayed has Battalion Chief till retirement in 2016. Stayed continually active in CPFR, State Training Academy , and Bates with some other training events. Presently on Washington State Fire Chiefs Training and Safety Officer board. Past President of Washington State Firefighters Association.
Married for 44 years with 2-sons. Hobbies umpire baseball, recycling cardboard and Fire Service. |
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Stephanie Glass
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
We all face challenges from time to time and I’m here to help. Whether you are facing PTSD, substance abuse issues, marital difficulties or any of life’s other difficulties, I can assist in helping you navigate necessary leave from work, work modifications and finding resources for you or your family members. We can talk confidentially any time.
I was hired by Central Pierce in 1994 the day after graduating from high school and essentially grew up in the fire service. I spent a few years as a secretary before promoting into a public education position where I stayed for 15 years. In 2012, I came to work in Human Resources. I am married and have two young twin daughters. Outside of work, I enjoy ATVs, boating and camping. |
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Don Hodges
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
Firefighter/Paramedic with CPFR. Hired with Puyallup Fire in 1997. Been with our Peer Support team since it started. I have a wife and 2 kids. Our son is in the Air Force and our daughter is going to college in the fall. I love fishing and also enjoy hunting. My wife and I are active in our church and host a high school youth group in our home.
I have a heart to help others enjoy our jobs and after 20 years of working in this career, have recently realized how the stress of what we deal with, impacts us. People outside our profession don’t really understand the toll this profession takes on us. They tend to see the cool schedule, the pay, the bright shiny rigs we ride around on, and that we get to sleep at work. What is not seen is the trauma stress that is just now being brought out into the open. I see it as an honor to be a member of the Peer Support team. Feel free to contact me; I am willing to listen and support you in what you are going through. |
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Adam Jackson
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I graduated from Western Washington University in 1993; started working with Sumner Fire Department in 1994; moved to King Co. Fire # 10 in 1995; then to Puyallup in 1996 which became Central Pierce Fire & Rescue where I currently oversee Health & Safety. I am very passionate about Firefighter Health and Safety specifically Mental and Physical Wellbeing. I have been married to my very understanding wife Kelli for 21 years. I have two daughters Emily (18) and Megan (15), I also have a son Tyler (9). I enjoy cycling, camping, soccer and just relaxing in the great outdoors. I am very excited to be involved in the development of our departments Behavioral Health Program. Our profession is a noble one, but it often comes with a price. The stress of life, family, work and interrupted sleep cycles can take its toll on us. I am looking forward to helping in any way I can.
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Ryan Madison
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I’m a father of two children, married for 9 years, jack of all trades and master of none. I’ve been a career FF for 7 ½ years with CPFR and prior to that I was a physical therapist for 8 years. I enjoy the outdoors, including soccer, mtn biking, hiking, archery elk, bear hunting to name a few. I joined the peer support team because I want to be there for my fellow brothers and sisters by being a good listener and helping them find the right resources.
Whether it was just a “benign” call to others and need someone to talk to or the person that has bottled everything bad up (from bad relationships, family deaths, calls, etc) in their life and now have reached a breaking point. I have by no means seen everything but I have had some rough patches in my life that I realized I needed to deal with. Reach out and we will chat in a confidential and comfortable environment. |
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Rebeccah Martinazzi
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I have been with Central Peirce Fire and Rescue since July of 2013. This job has given me an opportunity to once again belong to an organization I believe in; an organization that makes a differences. I came to the Fire Department from the Army and have continue to serve in the Washington National Guard, cumulating over 18 years of service. Both of these careers have shown me how import the people you serve with are and how fragile we really are. I believe we make a different in the lives of our community but more important we can make a different in each other’s lives.
I have two crazy little girls and a wonderful husband that is a retired Green Beret. He now has the hardest job of his life… Daddy daycare! My hobbies include doing dishes, folding laundry and dreaming about getting sleep! I’m excited to be a part of the Peer Support Team because it’s a program that works and one I truly believe in. |
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Matt McDowell
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I have worked as a heavy equipment operator/welder for about 15 years with my family’s pile driving business and as a firefighter most recently for about 4. The more I do the firefighting job, the more I genuinely believe it is the “Holy Grail” of jobs so to speak. My wife Danielle I are going on 16 years of fighting and making up again and have been blessed with 4 awesome kids; Adaline 13, Caleb 11, Greta 10, and Elijah 8. The six of us love backpacking all over the PNW as well as socializing with friends and family. I feel honored to be a part of a great group of people whose purpose is to be helpful to our fellow brothers and sisters who need/want it. I have been blown away by the caliber of people I get to work with on a daily basis in this career and firmly believe that this job draws the best type of people to it. I have noticed too that there are things that can make this job difficult for us and especially for our family members. It takes a decent amount of communication and intentionality to truly reap the rewards that this job can afford. If you are struggling with something and would like someone to talk with in a confidential setting, please don’t hesitate to call or text. We all have needed people in our lives to draw strength, advice, and love from to get through some of the hard times that inevitably happen. The only thing that truly lasts in this life and career are the relationships we build with each other and those we come in contact with. I look forward to meeting/talking with you in the future.
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Andy Moan
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I’m forty six years old and married, with one son attending the UW. Have been in the fire service for 27 years and a paramedic for 24 of them. I fundamentally believe that we work with some of the best people on the planet. The type of people that spend a life time considering others before self. I’m really excited to be a part of this needed approach to our internal customer service. Please, if you need anything call.
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Jennett Nielson
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
My name is Jennett Nielson. I’m currently a Captain at station 73 in the City of Puyallup. I have almost 16 years of career experience and 18 years overall in the fire service. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, enjoying sports and our beautiful outdoors. I have an amazing family who all live in the Snohomish County area.
I am honored to be a firefighter and take as many opportunities as I can to give back to our communities through volunteer work and fundraisers. I have also chosen to give to our brothers and sisters by training and becoming a PEER Support member. I have great strength in integrity and loyalty for our Fire Department family and would be happy to talk with you whenever you need. Health is more than physical. |
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Joe Otto
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
Hi everyone, my name is Joe Otto. I started in the fire service as a volunteer with the Enumclaw Fire department in 2002, got hired full time in 2005, and then was fortunate enough to join the great team of fire fighters at Central Pierce Fire and Rescue in January of 2016. I'm a long-time Enumclaw resident and enjoy living there with my wife Maryn, sons Colby and Chevy, and dog Gretchen. We enjoy everything outdoors - Mt biking, skiing, hiking, hunting, team sports, yard work and gardening to name a few. Another big passion/hobby of mine is classic trucks, mostly Chevys, I have a few of them. My wife Maryn is also a career fire fighter, so we have the common bond of the fire service and are each others greatest support system.
I'm very honored to be a member of the Peer Support Team. My friends and coworkers say that I'm easy to talk to so please don't hesitate to call of text any time day or night. |
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Tim Rioux
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
My name is Tim Rioux. I currently serve as a Firefighter/Paramedic for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue on A-shift.
I live in Gig Harbor with my wife, Alyssa, and 5 kids (Brev 19, Adele 15, Finn 11, Pepper 9, and Arleigh 3). I spent some time in the U.S. Army and had a cup of coffee as a Dental Hygienist, bike messenger, and private ambulance EMT. I didn't grow up in Washington but visited for a month in September/October a long time ago and knew this was the place. As a family we try to explore the planet we live on when not driving to soccer, baseball, gymnastics, or playdates. I have fished enough to own a lot of gear and think that a sunny day at the ballpark is not too bad. As a member of your Peer Support Team I look forward to learning how to best serve my fellow first responders. |
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Rob Taylor
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I was honored to start in the fire service in 1996 volunteering in Castle Rock, Colorado then became paid for 5 years in God's country (aka Colorado) before getting hired by Puyallup FD in 2003. PFD merged with Central Pierce F&R in 2009 and I worked there until 2012 when I took the opportunity to lead my wife and 4 kiddos to southern Africa where we lived/worked and did some humanitarian/mission work along the way. When our time there came to a close, we relocated back here and I was fortunate to be rehired by CPFR in 2017. I have always had a big heart for helping people however I can and was nominated by several co-workers to be on the Peer Support team. I'm always willing to take the time, lend an ear and help someone make sense of the things we see and find their way out of a hard season or a dark time.
Call or text anytime, day or night. |
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Tracy Wiseman
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
I have worked for CPFR since 1994 in Administration Services. I have worked at our Maintenance Facility (SHOP) since 2010. I have been married since 2000 to my sweet husband (Bob) and we have two children – Josh (14) and Shelby (11). I love to walk, yoga, read, I am active in my church and love to spend time outside with my family.
In my off hours I am the ministry lead for a local Celebrate Recovery Program. In this arena I have experience help people work on recovery from anger, anxiety, addiction, depression and PTSD using a 12 Step Small Group format. I am honored to be included in the CPFR PEER Support Team. I have a passion to help people and am available to talk or help direct to resources whenever needed. |
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Bryan Workman
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue |
My name is Bryan Workman and I have been a mechanic for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue for twenty years. *My only experience fighting fire was volunteering my sawyer skills on the Chimney Fire in the Olympics in 1981. I have found myself as the initial caretaker for severe injuries on a few occasions from my time logging and racing motorcycles. These experiences gave me a basic understanding of what first responders do; knowing my experiences are but a tiny fraction of what professionals and heavily involved volunteers go through greatly deepens my respect and compassion for them.* I have held several jobs coming of age in the era of skilled labor’s evolution, and I had never enjoyed interacting with so many people at work as I have here.
I have a wonderful wife and three great children: two teenage daughters still at home and a son in California who has given us two grandchildren. With an abundance of life’s inevitable distractions, I really cherish moments I can steal to be with my family. I have coached youth baseball and fast pitch for thirty years as the remaining “hobby" in my life. Some day, I hope to find time to go golfing or fishing again. |