By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Fire season started early this year for Peter Malone. When a wildfire started June 11 in Rowena near The Dalles, the Oregon Department of Forestry firefighter responded to the call.
Malone was among the firefighting crews called to the front lines to battle the blaze, which grew to more than 3,800 acres in its first few days, destroying 50 homes and threatening hundreds more, as thousands of residents were evacuated.
Officials said the fire was caused by humans, and fueled by wind and low ground moisture. And as Malone described his experience, “The fire gets super hot, super intense.”
Malone works full time during the fire season with the ODF. This is his third year fighting wildfires. He’s already been called into action to fight three wildfires this season.
“We’re barely into June, into fire season,” he said. Fire season usually begins in late June and lasts 13 weeks, with fire activity peaking in July and August.
When he’s not fighting wildfires for the state agency, he works as a volunteer firefighter with the Hoodland Fire District headquartered in Welches.
Malone said as a child, he became interested in big fire rigs and their flashing sirens. His interest grew as he got older and, inspired by his uncle, he began exploring firefighting as a career.
“My uncle was a firefighter and one of my biggest motivations,” he said. “He helped guide my path and told me,’ if you’re truly serious about it’ I could make it a career. I haven’t looked back.”
“I love the job and love being at Hoodland. Everyone there is super nice. It’s a good community to be around.”
He loves fighting fire. He can’t get enough of it.
“I really enjoy fighting fire,” Malone said. “I enjoy everything about fire. I like everything it has to offer – high adrenaline, every call is different. No one day is the same as the next. At my current job, we’re out there in the field 10 hours a day doing all sorts of stuff.”
One day, he’ll do fuel reduction and the next day he’ll lay out timber sales. Then he could be out fighting fire for the next 14 days.
Malone said his biggest mentor is Hoodland firefighter paramedic Pat McAbery, who was his student cadet leader at Gresham Fire Department and taught him firefighting classes at Central Oregon Community College.
“He’s the reason why I ended up at Hoodland now, because I look up to that man with everything I have,” Malone said. “He’s super motivational and he encouraged me to start volunteering with Hoodland.
“I had him as a teacher for about a year and now I get to work beside him as a volunteer. It’s kind of a full circle. He saw me when I was 15 and now he sees me when I’m 22.”
Malone likes the working environment at the Hoodland station, especially the feeling of brotherhood shared among fellow firefighters.
“It truly does feel like a family when you are at the station,” he said. “You go to work and see your friends. I like that about it.”
As a first-responder, Malone also finds it rewarding to help make someone having their worst day a little better.
“When anyone dials 911, it’s obviously the worst day of their lives,” he said. “Getting to see them and trying to make it a little bit better, that’s always been my biggest motivation.”
A graduate of Jesuit High School, Malone grew up and still lives in Sandy. During fire season, he lives in The Dalles to be near his work.
One of his favorite pastimes is boating with family and friends on Lake Billy Chinook. Most of his free time is spent volunteering at the Hoodland Fire District.