He’s a youthful master
Published 9:00 pm Monday, February 9, 2004
EVERETT — At a hulking 83,000 pounds and tires taller than a sixth-grader, it’s a wonder the massive machine moves.
More impressive is the young man who repairs the unique fire truck and two others like it at the Snohomish County Airport Fire Department at Paine Field.
Peter Hereth, along with another mechanic, is responsible for repairing, maintaining and inspecting the fire trucks for his department and those in Mukilteo, Arlington and Stanwood.
At 21, Hereth has become the youngest certified master fire apparatus mechanic in North America.
"It’s the highest level of certification you can obtain in our business," said fellow firefighter and chief mechanic Steve Towers. "It’s pretty phenomenal he did it at age 21."
Only 374 mechanics in the continent have obtained this status, passing a series of five emergency vehicle technician tests and eight National Institute of Automotive Service of Excellence exams.
On Friday, Jim Broman, president of the state Association of Fire Chiefs, will present Hereth with an award for his achievement.
The Everett man is quick to downplay the honor.
"I’m proud knowing firefighters are able to get to people they need to rescue because I’ve done my work properly," Hereth said.
Serious problems with failing fire equipment have led departments across the nation to use only certified mechanics, Towers said. "It’s not a state or federal law. It’s a prudent man’s law," he said.
The nature of the business is hard on fire trucks, he said. When a call comes in, firefighters don’t have time to let a truck engine warm up. It is imperative all the equipment works, including the water pumps and ladders. There’s no room for mistakes, Towers said.
"There’s a lot of liability rolling around with emergency vehicles," Hereth said.
He and Towers are trained to spot problems before they occur. Along with fighting fires at an airport that saw 100,000 aircraft come and go last year, they are on call night and day to make immediate repairs, train firefighters to spot potential problems and do routine inspections.
"I never thought I’d be working on fire trucks," the Snohomish High School graduate said.
Hereth grew up on a dairy farm in the Snohomish Valley, where he learned a bit about auto repair. Shortly after graduation he enrolled in a diesel mechanic school in Phoenix, Ariz. He returned home to attend his brother’s wedding and talked to Towers about a temporary mechanic position at the Paine Field department.
Towers proposed an apprenticeship to Hereth. It was a proposal that would lead to nearly 900 hours of training, dozens of tests and piles of homework. "He’s used to working hard. He’s very disciplined," Towers said.
Three years later, Hereth has found his niche in the mechanic shop. He also learned that he loves firefighting. He volunteered with the Mukilteo Fire Department until he was hired fulltime by Paine Field in 2002. He finished his training at the state fire academy last spring.
"I saw myself changing oil at a big truck shop. It just didn’t fit," he said. "I really like this. It’s unique."
Reporter Diana Hefley:
425-339-3463 or
