Lewiston Firefighters Local 1773

05/25/2026

Today we’re proud to welcome Mackenzie Gray as she works her first full-time shift with the Lewiston Fire Department.

Mackenzie joined the department in 2024 as a reserve firefighter and was recently promoted to full-time firefighter, filling a vacancy created through retirements.

Originally from Snohomish, Washington, Mackenzie began her fire service career as a reserve firefighter in Pullman while attending Washington State University.

While working for both the Pullman and Lewiston Fire Departments and attending school full time, Mackenzie recently graduated Magna Cum Laude — an accomplishment that reflects the work ethic, commitment, and determination she brings to the fire service every day.

We look forward to all of her future successes and are excited to have her as part of the Local 1773 family.

Welcome to Local 1773, Mackenzie!

05/18/2026

Proud to stand with our brothers and sisters in blue to support Michael Collins For Idaho House District 7 Seat A . Make a plan to vote tomorrow!

I'm happy to announce I've received the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police. We must continue to support the hardworking men and women who dedicate themselves every day to protecting our communities. Thank you for your support!

05/18/2026

Your Lewiston firefighters are proud to endorse Mike Collins for Idaho House Seat 7A. Mike is a proven supporter of true Idaho values, blue collar working families, and the first responders who are there for you when it matters most. Tomorrow is Primary Day — make a plan to vote and send the right person to Boise for our community!

05/13/2026

We like to think we’re THE oldest structured fire department in the state… and if anybody disagrees, we challenge them to a Wiffle ball game. 🤣✊

05/07/2026

🚒 Retirement Announcement – Paramedic Engineer Cody Koth 🚒

Today, we recognize the retirement of Engineer Cody Koth after 29 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Lewiston.

Cody began his career with the Lewiston Fire Department as a reserve firefighter before being hired full time in 1999. Over nearly three decades, he built a career defined by service, professionalism, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the people around him.

If you know Cody, you know one thing for sure—he’s always smiling. Whether it was a difficult call, a long shift, or just another day around the kitchen table, Cody brought positivity to the station and made the people around him better.

His commitment to the community extended beyond the job, volunteering his time reading to children at local libraries and supporting charitable efforts throughout the Valley.

More than anything, Cody’s recent message to the department reminded all of us what this job is really about — Family, Service, and Shared sacrifice. As Cody wrote in a recent retirement message to the crews:

“Family by fire.”

His faith, gratitude, and servant’s heart were evident in the way he approached both the job and the people around him.

For 29 years, Cody answered calls alongside generations of Lewiston firefighters and paramedics, standing shoulder to shoulder through difficult calls, long nights, victories, heartbreak, laughter, and the daily struggles that come with this profession.

The Lewiston Fire Department is better because Cody Koth was part of it.

On behalf of Lewiston Firefighters Local 1773, thank you for your years of service, your leadership, your heart, and the example you set for those who will follow behind you.

Congratulations, Brother. You will be deeply missed.

04/27/2026

Excited to team up with our First Responder partners across the valley as well as the Lewiston Rotary club. Come on out and watch the game to see who brings home the bragging rights.

04/14/2026

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 – 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Today we recognize and celebrate the career of Paramedic Mark Swift, whose 32 years of service to the fire service and emergency medicine have left a lasting impact on our department and our community.

Mark began his service as a Reserve Firefighter on May 16, 1994, while also working with the City of Clarkston Fire Department. After nearly a decade serving both Clarkston and Lewiston, he was hired full-time with the Lewiston Fire Department on June 10, 2003.

Mark was later promoted to Engineer on October 5, 2008, a role in which he continued to demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the job.

In 2018, Mark was honored as the Idaho State VFW Firefighter/Paramedic of the Year, a reflection of the respect he earned across the fire service and the communities he served.

While his career in the fire service is impressive, Mark’s greatest passion has always been emergency medicine. For more than 20 years, he has dedicated himself to educating others—teaching CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) to first responders, nurses, and physicians throughout our region. His impact goes far beyond the calls he responded to—Mark has helped shape the knowledge and skills of countless providers who serve our communities every day.

Mark represents the very best of our profession:

✔ 32 years of dedicated service
✔ Commitment to training and mentorship
✔ A lifelong investment in the safety and well-being of others

On behalf of the members of Lewiston Firefighters Local 1773, we thank Mark for his decades of service, his leadership, and his commitment to improving emergency care in our community.

Congratulations on your retirement, Mark. Well-earned and well-deserved.

04/10/2026

🚒 ENDORSEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT 🚒

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟯 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 Michael Collins For Idaho House District 7 Seat A 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Michael has a longstanding commitment to our community and a proven record of supporting first responders. He has built a strong working relationship with our members and understands the importance of safe staffing, reliable funding, and protecting the people who protect this community.

Just as important, Mike stands with working families. His support for middle-class workers and organized labor reflects the values we fight for every day on and off the job.

Our PAC is funded 100% by voluntary contributions from our members—firefighters and paramedics who live and serve right here. Every endorsement we make is decided through a democratic process and focused on supporting candidates who improve the lives of our community and first responders.

We encourage everyone to get informed and make your voice heard in the upcoming primary election.

02/02/2026

🍻 Pints Up. Cancer Down. 🎗️

Lewiston Firefighters’ Stair Climb Team is gearing up to take on the climb in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — honoring those we’ve lost, standing with those still fighting, and pushing for the research that saves lives.

Giving back is just part of who Lewiston firefighters are. Serving this community doesn’t stop when the tones go quiet — it shows up in the ways we continue to support our neighbors, on and off duty.

📍 Fundraiser Night:
Groundwork Brewing
🗓 Saturday, February 21st
⏰ 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Stop in, grab a pint, and support the team as we climb for those who can’t.

💪 Donate or support the climb here:

https://pages.lls.org/events/wa/firefighterstairclimb26/LewistonFireDepartment

Every step matters. Every pint helps.

Pints Up. Cancer Down. 🍺🎗️

12/06/2025

Honoring Engineer Dale L. Shell
April 11, 1948 – December 6, 2001
Lewiston Fire Department – Line of Duty Death

On May 14, 1977, Lewiston Firefighter Dale Shell, just 29 years old, was operating at a residential fire on Lewiston's Normal Hill. The home’s walls were packed with sawdust insulation, which burned and produced toxic gases during overhaul. Dale suffered a severe respiratory injury and required extensive hospitalization. The damage to his lungs and internal organs never fully healed.

Despite the seriousness of the injury, Dale fought his way back. After months of recovery and rehabilitation, he returned to duty and continued serving the citizens of Lewiston. He struggled through the remaining 14 years of his career, staying committed to the job and to his crew. He retired in 1992 when the lasting effects of his injury made it necessary. On December 6, 2001, at the age of 53, Dale died from pulmonary edema related to the injury he sustained in that fire. His sacrifice is honored nationally, with his name engraved on the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs.

Before joining the fire service, Dale served three tours in Vietnam with the United States Navy. He remained active in the community throughout his life. He contributed time and labor to the construction of the Pioneer Park Bandshell, and he played saxophone in the Lewis-Clark Community Band.

Dale’s story reminds us that the effects of this work do not always end when the call does. Some injuries follow firefighters for years. Some sacrifices unfold over a lifetime.

We remember Engineer Dale Shell.
We honor his service and his perseverance.
And we remain committed to protecting the health and well-being of those who serve today.

IAFF Local 1773 – Service, Solidarity, Sacrifice