News Release from: Sandy Fire District
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER ALICE BUSCH RESIGNS FROM SANDY FIRE
Posted: November 30th, 2012 2:18 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-11/1084/59800/DSC01102_2.JPG (Alice Busch)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-11/1084/59800/Public_Luncheon_002.jpg (At the Clackamas County Public Safety Luncheon: Alice Busch, Chief Gary McQueen, Deputy Chief Rob Dahl)
After nearly 14 years with Sandy Fire District, and just under 22 years in the fire service, Busch has accepted a position with Multnomah County Human Services as their Emergency Management Coordinator.
"I think it's fitting that my last day in the fire service, is also the day that some people believe is the end of the world, December 21st, 2012. I never thought I would leave the fire service." Said Busch, who stated that the recent change to part time status at the department was what caused her to seek full time employment elsewhere. "I love Sandy and feel like I am leaving my family. At some point co-workers and community partners merged into friends, so at least I know our paths will continue to cross."
Busch started with Sandy Fire District in February 1999 as a Fire Inspector, Investigator, Education and Information Officer. Throughout her service with the district Busch took on additional roles to include: grant writing, emergency management/disaster preparedness, community and social services, critical incident stress management, the public CPR program, and juvenile firesetter intervention. Her worked spanned across the county and region and included 5 years of volunteer work with Portland Fire and 13 years as a shared employee with Boring Fire District.
Busch says she knows she often stretched the bounds of what was traditional for the fire service to take on through prevention, but says she followed what the community seemed to need at the time. "My job is to prevent our emergency calls, and I have always tried to find the most effective ways to do that, sometimes it meant thinking outside the box, way outside the box." Busch mentions supporting the development of community gardens as an example. She is quick to point out the correlation between the overall health of a community (via access to fresh, nutrient rich foods) as well as a community's level of interconnectedness with each other, as ingredients to greater disaster resiliency. "People working side by side in a garden, accomplishing shared tasks, is a recipe for building positive relationships." She goes on to mention that increasing the number of food pantries in the community provides protection against the shock a disaster can cause to a community.
According to Busch, most of her work with the community however, easily fell into the 'traditional' category, "teaching fire and life safety in classrooms, and for businesses and organizations, and attending public events and participating in community meetings."
Busch says that she always had "great support for my prevention efforts and consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for Chief McQueen, who is a true advocate for our community and often told me that the 'health and welfare of our community is our business.' Of course I also worked with some of the most dedicated and top-notch firefighters and support staff that a person could ever hope for, in a community that really believes in the importance of prevention. It was a really difficult decision to leave." It's easy to see when talking to Busch that she is passionate about her public service.
Busch's departure from the fire service will be marked with a going away party, held from 4 pm - 7 pm "so that the community can attend,'' she says, versus the traditional coffee and cake in the middle of the day. "I want to say a proper goodbye to all the wonderful people I have worked for and with for the past 14 years, I'm hoping they can swing by on their way home from work to give me a hug."
Fire Prevention Officer, Alice Busch's send off will be held at the Sandy Fire District's Annex (17459 Bruns Ave, Sandy, OR 97055) Friday, December 21st from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Although light snacks and refreshments will be provided, attendees are welcome to bring snacks to share as well.
The public is encouraged to contact: admin@sandyfire.org with any questions.
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