Fond farewell for firefighter
<p>Coeur d'Alene firefighters gathered this week to honor retiring battalion chief Pete Vandall. Pictured from left: Capt. Joe Lind, Capt. Jeff Canfield, firefighter Ben Hector, Vandall, firefighter Blaine Porter, engineer Kelan McKeirnan, and firefighter Jesse Freijge.</p>
After 31 years on the job, firefighter Pete Vandall is pulling in the hose, hanging up his helmet and, finally, getting some uninterrupted sleep.
The battalion chief with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department officially retired on Tuesday.
Vandall, 62, was honored Monday during a meal at Coeur d'Alene Fire Station No. 3.
The veteran firefighter says he is proud to leave behind a competent group men and women who serve the city of Coeur d'Alene.
"They're incredible people and I just can't say enough about them. Just watching them do their job is amazing," Vandall said.
Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel thanked Vandall for his "steadfast loyalty" to the department and the city.
"I started working for Pete 29 years ago when I was a volunteer. We are blessed to have people that mentor us and teach us the right way to do things like Pete has done all these years," Gabriel said. "He was the consummate team player whose main goal was to make sure that every member of his team returned home safe after every trip."