Fighting fires for 43 years, Klemmer retires as Lind Fire Department’s chief

Over the course of 43 years, a lot of things change and little ever seems to stay the same, but for Lind resident Don Klemmer, one thing has remained constant. For over 40 years, Klemmer has dedicated his time to being a firefighter for the Lind Fire Department, and for the past 20 years, he has served as chief.

Today, Klemmer is retiring from his role as Fire Protection District No. 2 chief but with the willingness to continue serving the community.

He began his adventure as a Lind firefighter in 1969 and has spent the past 43 years dedicated to the department for the betterment of the district and the county. A lifelong resident of Lind, Klemmer has only spent two years residing elsewhere; during his military service when he was stationed in Korea.

Klemmer said he has never had a desire or a reason to leave Lind. After the service, he had a job, friends and family to return to, and those three things have remained as a permanent part of his life. Initially, Klemmer worked at the Dryland Research Unit and then hauled gas for the Lind Grange Supply for over 40 years.

Becoming a firefighter was not a lifelong dream of Klemmer’s, but his good friend Ed Fode convinced him to join. Klemmer’s passion for helping others and improving the community proved to be the two key components needed to being a successful firefighter for the next 43 years.

“I have a lot of memories, I’ve been around for so long,” Klemmer joked. “I’ve made a lot of friends, not only here, but from around the district.”

When Klemmer started at the department, the crew consisted of 20-25 men and many of them had emergency response training. Klemmer took First Aid courses in order to respond to medical cases that did not necessary need the fire department dispatched.

“With the medical stuff, I enjoyed it. I liked going out and helping people on the highway,” Klemmer explained.

For nearly 10 years, Klemmer served as an emergency responder until the criteria changed and he would have to learn to administer IVs.

Like the changes in requirements with emergency responders, Klemmer has witnessed a variety of transformations in the department. Over the course of the years, the trucks got bigger, the water pressure got stronger, and scanners became the main way to contact firefighters.

When Klemmer began at the department, there was only one way to have firefighters to respond to a call: the siren. Slowly pagers began to be implemented, and now the department uses the narrowband frequency to communicate.

Originally, Klemmer explained all of the trucks were much smaller and every truck was red. Firefighters were basically at ground level, fighting the fires head on, and a man would ride on a platform in front of the truck attempting to extinguish the flames.

With the increase in truck size, the crews were able to carry more water, and the water pressure helped firefighters keep a more reasonable distance from the fire. Klemmer always liked working up on top of the truck, but once he became chief, he spent most of his time driving the equipment.

For Klemmer, the changes were necessary and he believes the equipment has allowed the firefighters to be as safe as possible when attending an emergency call. But he does miss the siren and all of the red trucks.

Over the years, Klemmer has gone to calls all over the county and has always enjoyed working with other departments. He appreciates that Lind and Ritzville departments have been able to work together through the years and provide mutual aide when needed.

“I believe we’ve got an awful good crew of men,” Klemmer said about the Lind department and neighboring districts. “With the young kids, they have an interest. You’ve got to be dedicated to it.”

As a naturally competitive person, Klemmer has always enjoyed the rush he felt when going to a call. When responding to a fire, he knew only two things could happen: either he would get the best of the fire, or it would get the best of him.

“When I was a kid, I was kind of afraid of fire,” Klemmer recalled.

“If you’re scared of a fire, you can’t do your job,” Klemmer explained the role of a fireman. “You have to respect the fire, but not fear it.”

With Klemmer’s retirement, a new member of the Lind department will be filling the role of chief. Kevin Starring will fill the shoes left behind by Klemmer, and Klemmer believes he will succeed in his role after serving alongside him for many years.

Retirement will be a time for Klemmer to spend quality time with his family and his community. The father of two girls, Lisa and Julie, and the grandfather of four, Klemmer plans to stay busy. After many years of responding to fire calls, Klemmer also hopes to be able to repay Vi Holland for her constant patience and understanding.

“I’ve got to get to know a lot of people,” Klemmer said when reflecting back on the years. “It’s been a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed it.”

The fire department is honoring Klemmer’s 43 years of service on Monday, Feb. 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Lind Fire Station. Community members and firefighters from around the county are encouraged to attend the celebration.