Three area firefighters make calendar cut

Snohomish County can continue to boast that some of Puget Sound’s hottest firefighters work here.

Three local firefighters have been selected to appear in the popular 2004 firefighter calendar, which raises money for the nonprofit Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation.

Lynnwood Firefighter Bryan Youngman, Snohomish County District 7 Firefighter Matt Abers and Everett Fire Department Capt. Larry Longley made the cut, Burn Foundation executive director Rod Heivilin said May 19.

The three were among eight local finalists for the calendar. Thirty-eight firefighters competed in the final round of judging for the calendar May 15 in Everett, the first time the event was held here.

More than 400 people packed Club Broadway to get a look at the finalists, earning the Burn Foundation about $3,000.

“The level of enthusiasm was phenomenal,” Heivilin said.

The results were announced May 19. About half of the finalists were selected, Heivilin said.

Other local finalists included Everett Firefighter Mark Golder, Lynnwood Firefighter Andrew MacDonald and Snohomish County Fire District 7 firefighters Brett Fetcho, Ryan Lundquist and Ronda Carlson.

The calendar features photos of men and women firefighters from throughout the Puget Sound area. Several Snohomish County and north King County firefighters were included in past editions.

The foundation’s 2003 calendar sold 29,000 copies, bringing in about $250,000, which was used to fund research grants and public education programs, Heivilin said.

Photographs for the calendar will be shot at the end of this month and in June, he said.

The 2004 Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation calendar will be released in August. An unveiling is scheduled for Aug. 16.

For more information or to order a 2003 calendar for $10, visit www.firefightercalendar.org or call the Burn Foundation at 800-847-6572.

Katherine Schiffner is a reporter for the Herald in Everett.