Jaeger reaches new heights in firefighting career

Lt. Christina Jaeger continues to make strides in her firefighter career.

Jaeger, who has been volunteering with the Medical Lake Fire Department since November 2013, recently graduated from the West Plains Crew Leader Fire Academy. She was promoted to lieutenant in May.

Jaeger's firefighting career began 10 years ago when she was visiting her brother, who works with the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District, in Hayden Lake, Idaho. One night, her brother asked her to go on a ridealong.

"It was a busy night that included a structure fire," Jaeger said. "I had worked in an office and never experienced anything like it. When I got back to the fire station I saw the satisfaction in my brother's eyes. One of the things about being a firefighter is you're helping people in their darkest moment."

Jaeger started volunteering with the Northern Lakes and was "bitten by the bug." During this time she worked as a 911 dispatch operator and transferred to the Jerome Fire Department in Jerome, Idaho in 2009.

One of the things she enjoys about being a firefighter is working closely with her team.

"The camaraderie you build with your brothers and sisters is amazing," Jaeger said.

During this time Jaeger started working full-time with American Medical Response. She later met current Medical Lake Fire Chief Jason Mayfield and started volunteering at Medical Lake.

Jaeger didn't go through the West Plains recruit academy, though she went through a similar experience at Northern Lakes. In the crew leader academy, students were responsible for mentoring the recruits. In addition to helping new recruits, Jaeger said the crew leader academy also helped her hone her leadership and motivational skills.

"Anyone can give orders but you have people following you into burning buildings and you have a responsibility to your crew and your constituents," Jaeger said.

Jaeger's motto is leading by example. She said she would never ask a firefighter to do anything she wouldn't do herself.

For Jaeger, the biggest transition between her previous firefighting experience and working at Medical Lake is going from a full-time firefighter to part-time. Being a full-time firefighter, the routine, team and schedules were set.

"Sometimes you don't know who's going to be on shift, whether it's probationary firefighters or officers," Jaeger said. "It means more training and getting to know everyone."

The calls are similar in nature but on a smaller scale. Last year she was at the Watermelon Hill fire, working for AMR.

"I didn't get to go to the Carlton Complex fire, as I working my job," Jaeger said. "I had to swallow a bitter pill. I really wanted to help my brothers and sisters."

In addition to working with her own team, Jaeger has also worked with officers from other agencies in Spokane County, Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Cheney fire departments. The fire department also works closely with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, as well as staff at Eastern State Hospital and Lakeland Village during calls to the state hospitals.

"You all have to work together to keep the community safe," Jaeger said.

One thing Jaeger enjoys about Medical Lake is the small-town atmosphere. For Jaeger, who recently moved to Medical Lake and lives close to the fire station, living in the city gives her a chance to interact with the population.

"When I see people in the grocery store and they say 'hi,' it means you're a part of the community and not just a firefighter on duty," Jaeger said.

Jaeger also educates residents about fire safety and is currently writing a grant that would provide funding for the department to purchase smoke detectors and give them to homes that don't have working ones.

"I love working with kids," Jaeger said. "They get to see what we do and they see me and they think 'I don't have to be over six-foot and a burly guy to be a firefighter. They see me and say 'I can do that?' I tell them they can as long as they work hard and stay in school."

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.