The North Kitsap community mourns the loss of our friend, Blaze, the firedog of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue. His memory will live on in a generation of children whose lives he touched and made safer. He served as not only a companion to the firefighters, but also helped focus children and adults alike on fire safety and prevention.
“As a teacher, he was a valuable asset to the kids in the classroom. All the kids knew Blaze. He was a component in the bags of tricks to get them to pay attention. I just loved him,” said NKF&R Fire Commissioner Pat Pearson, who is also a long-time kindergarten teacher at Gordon Elementary School.
“He was a real valuable asset to the department as a whole.”
The Kingston Community News presents this photographic tribute to Blaze along with the poignant and deeply heartfelt obituary written by Michèle Laboda, NKF&R community services specialist, who in Blaze’s last days slept at the fire station on an inflatable mattress to care for him, Pearson said.
“Blaze was a highly recognizable and loved symbol of NKF&R,” Laboda noted. “The empty space he’ll leave behind will be felt by thousands; his passing can’t go unmarked.”
Our thanks to all the NKF&R staff and firefighters who tended to Blaze, and made him one of their own.
He was a Blaze of glory indeed and will be greatly missed.
A public memorial service for Blaze will take place at 3 p.m. March 15 at NKF&R’s newly renamed Paul T. Nichol Headquarters Fire Station.
Blaze the firedog
June 7, 1994-Feb. 12, 2008
Blaze, the famous firedog of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, died peacefully Feb. 12 after a brief illness.
Blaze was born on June 7, 1994 in Kingston. His parents, Reba and Buttons, were members of the Gary Steele family. The Steeles, upon first seeing the new puppy, knew that he was destined for life as a firedog. NKF&R’s members agreed.
Blaze began his fire service career with NKF&R shortly after he was weaned, and was initially assigned to the operations division, riding in his own seat on the fire engine and responding to emergencies. But, after expressing his displeasure with his assignment by chewing through radio equipment and seat upholstery, district leaders transferred Blaze to the community services division where he assisted with fire and injury prevention efforts.
Unusually calm and friendly for his breed, Blaze charmed citizens with his exceptional good-looks, loving disposition, patience with children and impressive demonstration of the “Stop, Drop and Roll” technique. He lived in the fire station throughout his career and, between station tours and classroom visits, provided consistent service to firefighters by cleaning their plates and keeping their bunks warm when emergencies called crews away from meals and rest times.
Since 1994, he made frequent visits to local elementary and preschools. At a party in his honor to celebrate Blaze’s 10th birthday, more than 100 fans joined in the festivities. Later that year, he was named Grand Marshal of the Kingston Fourth of July Parade. Most recently, Blaze’s handsome face was featured in the 2006 Kitsap Humane Society Calendar.
The Dalmatian breed is thought to have become associated with firefighters when the animals were used as calming companions for the teams of horses that pulled fire pumpers before the advent of internal combustion engines. Some say the dogs – who love to run – were also useful at improving response times by keeping other animals away from the horse teams as well as acting as watchdogs to protect horses and equipment from thieves.
Today, although many firefighters own Dalmatians, modern “firehouse dogs” are apparently rare. So, Blaze caught the imagination of local and national media, appearing in a number of newspaper and television stories. He once was the subject of a seven-minute live interview on CNN.
A succession of injuries and illnesses plagued Blaze as he aged but thanks to the firefighters’ love and the community’s generosity, he recovered from several serious situations. Approaching 14 years of age, he was preparing to retire from active duty as worsening arthritis caused pain and threatened his mobility. Finally, a growth on his throat severely hampered his ability to eat, drink and breathe. Firefighters made the terribly difficult decision to spare their partner a painful death, and chose to end Blaze’s life in a peaceful and controlled manner with the assistance of his longtime vet, Dr. Jim Moore at Apple Tree Cove Animal Hospital.
Blaze is survived by his family – countless current and former firefighters – and an entire community of friends.
