Post Falls firefighter looks back on 40-year career

POST FALLS — Dan Ryan, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue’s deputy chief of support services, is hanging up his firefighter turnouts for the final time March 31. 

He began his journey in the industry as a volunteer firefighter in 1984. 

“When I started, breathing apparatus was only to be used in an emergency,” Ryan said. “Now, the guys have a breathing apparatus on their back when they step off the truck."

Ryan grew up watching his best friend’s grandfather run the Bonners Ferry Fire Department and enjoyed watching the television show, “Emergency!” following Squad 51, the medical and rescue unit of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  

Watching the local fire departments build up the relationship with his neighborhood during holiday events always meant a lot to him as a kid and after he began volunteering, he got more interested in the field. 

He was promoted through the ranks to captain and was hired as fire marshal in 1991, the only other paid position in the department besides the fire chief. 

Ryan has noticed many changes in the equipment he's used over the years. Different nozzle formations have been created to better absorb heat. The turnout gear serving as protective clothing has changed. 

“It used to weigh twice as much and it has better protection and chemical barriers,” Ryan said. 

Technology has also helped keep firefighters aware of their surroundings, Ryan said. 

“Communication has improved. Everybody has a portable radio now where when we first started just the officers did,” Ryan said. “The firefighter at the end of the hose had no idea what was going on outside of what he was doing.” 

There were about 30-40 volunteers when he started, but now the number of paid staff totals nearly 100.   

Paramedics and ambulance providers used to be separate from the fire department, but today, there’s a paramedic on every apparatus, Ryan said. 

New stations have been built. Post Falls firefighters consolidated with Kootenai Fire District.

He’s served as a member of Kootenai County, North Idaho and the Idaho Fire Chief associations, is the Operations Section Chief for County Type II Incident Management Team and the state’s All Hazard Type III Team. 

In 2011, he was appointed by county commissioners as a deputy emergency operations center manager. 

He’s grateful to add to his experience fighting fires in North Idaho and for 10 summers he spent assisting with the Department of Lands in major incidents from Florida to Oregon. 

“I've had a lot of really cool opportunities,” Ryan said. 

At the end of each summer with the Department of Lands, he returned to North Idaho. 

“Post Falls has been home,” Ryan said. “I got to raise all of my kids here.”  

Watching the needs of the community and firefighters change over time as the department has grown, Ryan said the level of care is the same, but he’s proud of the journey that got them here. 

“It has grown into something so much more. I stand back in awe sometimes when I think about where we are now,” Ryan said. 

    Dan Ryan stands outside Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. He started volunteering as a firefighter in Post Falls in 1984 and became fire marshal in 1991. Ryan will retire as chief of support services at the end of March.