Fire Chief Pat Riley honored as he retires after 29 years with Northern Lakes

HAYDEN — “I’m not a crier,” Chief Pat Riley said. 

Even so, tears filled his eyes Thursday as his fellow firefighters and community members came forward one by one to thank him for his 29 years at Northern Lakes Fire Protection District. 

Riley was honored with a lifetime membership for the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association as well as his time serving at Northern Lakes.   

"This has been a great ride,” Riley said. “This has been the most rewarding thing I’ve been able to do.” 

Kevin Croffoot was named interim fire chief and Luke Michael and Brad Belmont are serving as the interim deputy chiefs.   

Chris Larson has served alongside Riley for 25 years and reflected on their earlier days together at Northern Lakes.  

“I spent a lot of years with you on red shift and we had lots of fun,” Larson said. 

Larson said he learned early on that Riley liked beer and tended to snore when it came time to grab some shut-eye. 

“He’s the one with the Harley, but he’s the one who gave me the nickname 'Harley,'” Larson said.  

Kathy Hostetter asked the firefighters if she could speak at the sendoff as a community member after Riley honored her father at the end of his life. 

There was a costume party at the home where her father, a former Los Angeles firefighter, was being cared for. Not being able to find a last-minute firefighter outfit to help him relive his days as a first responder, Hostetter spoke to Chief Riley. 

“My father was the most community-minded firefighter I had ever met until I met Pat Riley,” Hostetter said. “He said, ‘I’m not going to give you an old dusty helmet I’m going to give you my helmet, I want him to wear my badge.’” 

She took the last photo of her father wearing the helmet and with the badge pinned onto his blanket. 

“Firefighters are about more than getting kitties out of trees. I had never met him before and he gave me his most prized possessions,” Hostetter said.  

Not one Riley, but two were celebrated as those gathered sang "Happy Birthday" to Chief Riley’s wife, Tracey Riley. She was presented flowers for sharing her husband with Northern Lakes for nearly three decades.

Jarrod Pitts said he was grateful to be given a chance at Northern Lakes Fire after growing up in Spokane. He was hired by Riley before he eventually became the Local 4045 firefighters union president.  

Creating a healthy and safe climate for firefighters to protect the community and one another is not an easy task, but Pitts gave Riley credit for ensuring the work culture lifts everyone up in the department.  

“You helped set a foundation that we’ve been able to build off and make things better for our firefighters,” Pitts said.

    Chief Pat Riley, surrounded by his family and fellow Northern Lakes firefighters was honored Thursday during his retirement party.
  

    Chris Larson holds up a photo of him and Fire Chief Pat Riley serving as honor guard for fallen firefighters in NYC after 9/11. Larson gave the gift to Riley as a retirement gift Thursday at Northern Lakes Fire Protection District.