Fire Chief Pat McDonald stands beside the fire engine that he and his father, Lee, drove from Appleton, Wis., to Elgin in 2002. Photo/Trish Yerges

ELGIN – After 27 1/2 years with the Elgin Rural Fire

Protection District and 19 of those as fire chief, Pat McDonald will

hang up his turn-outs and retire Dec. 31.

The public is invited to his retirement party from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 at the Emergency Services Building on 10th Avenue in Elgin.

McDonald began his career with the fire department in 1982 when he

was about 30 years old. He became assistant fire chief in 1987 and fire

chief in 1990.

“My dad (Lee McDonald) got me involved in it,” said McDonald. “He came to my house and asked me if this was something I’d be interested in. I thought it would be a good idea.”

The late Howard “Lee” McDonald was also a firefighter, and he later served as chief. Pat followed in his father’s footsteps. During his volunteer service, he fought some noteworthy fires.

“The Odies fire, a club and cafandeacute; downtown, was a big fire,” said McDonald. “That was 24 years ago next month. We lost four businesses and a man died. My ears got burned during that fire and I had bruises on my back.”

He remembered that incident well because seven days after the fire, his youngest daughter, Natalie, was born. She admired her dad’s occupation so much that she eventually joined the fire department and became a third-generation McDonald firefighter.

The fire at Oregon Log and Fiber in the industrial park was another one for the department’s history books.

“The log decks caught on fire,” said McDonald. “It was one of the first times we had mutual aid from Imbler, Island City, La Grande and Elgin. That called for some creative firefighting.”

Only one house fire came to McDonald’s mind that fit the category of unusual.

“The one house fire that sticks out was years ago an older couple’s house caught fire. The fire department was able to cover an antique china hutch with a tarp and keep the fire away from it. The china hutch had been passed down to the lady, and she planned on passing it on to a relative. The couple lost almost everything else during the fire, but they bragged about the fire department saving the china hutch.”

Then there was the fire at the Elgin plywood plant.

“We had five fire departments on that one and a helicopter dropping water,” said McDonald.

He was fire chief then and had 59 firefighters on the site.

“There were no injuries, and we saved the north and south end of the plant,” McDonald said proudly.

Firefighter Jim Davis of Elgin shared a lot of experiences with McDonald during his 20 years with the department. He recalled how things were handled at that fire.

“Pat spent a lot of hours there,” said Davis. “He was very diligent about getting things done just right there. He’s definitely dedicated and has always been a real asset to the department, city and the district all those years.”

Former fire chief Cecil Churchill, who served the district from 1965-1986, recalled when McDonald first joined as a firefighter and later when he became chief.

“It’s quite a responsibility to be fire chief,” he said, “and when Pat got it, he really wanted it. I think he did a fantastic job. I’m really proud of him and what he did. Within his ability, he’s done a great job, and because of his interest, the department has really progressed.”

On Chief McDonald’s watch, some long-time department dreams and goals became reality, thanks to the efforts of many former and current firefighters as well as the community.

Some of those accomplishments included getting the department’s training accredited by the state, purchasing new turnouts, establishing the firemen’s annual fundraising breakfast, supporting Stella Mayfield’s Read to Succeed night, promoting goodwill within the community during the winter holiday season, and most recently, constructing the new Emergency Services Building.

“The building is a real asset to the community,” said McDonald. “It’s a dream we’ve had for a long time.”

For the first time, the department has room to park its new trucks. No longer does McDonald have to park one on the lawn of his residence.

“All our trucks are new,” said McDonald. “I’ve been involved in getting every truck out there (in the fire house). My dad and I flew to Appleton, Wis., about 2002 and drove firetruck No. 26 all the way back to Elgin.”

McDonald has also helped to organize the District No. 13 Fire Training Association that serves Union, Wallowa and Baker county fire departments.

“I still plan on helping out District No. 13 and being a fire instructor,” he said. “I got to instruct a lot of firefighters over the years. Some of them went on to become career firefighters.”

The fire department has been a way of life for McDonald. He often planned his family vacations around conventions and training dates. All of this required the cooperation and understanding of his family.

“I could not have done any of this without the support of my family,” said McDonald. “My wife, Colleen, has been really supportive and has traveled all over the state with me.”

While reminiscing about his years with the department, McDonald paused, his eyes glistened. “I think what I’ll miss the most, though, is the camaraderie. The fire department has been like a big family to me, and I’ll miss that.”

The community is invited to join the members of the Elgin Rural Fire Protection District in celebrating McDonald’s contribution to the fire department and wishing him many happy retirement years.