After a harrowing year of recovery, Gresham firefighter Spencer Tejedas is set to return to duty, but with a twist in his role. Following injuries sustained in a fire incident last year which led to severe burns, Tejedas will take on an administrative position at the fire department's training academy. This transition will see him drawing from his deep well of experience to mentor and guide new recruits—a testament to his resilience and dedication.
In his new role, which begins tomorrow, Tejedas aims to actively engage with fresh faces eager to learn the ropes of firefighting. "Spencer’s return is nothing short of extraordinary", Chief Derik Minard declared in a statement, showing the high regard in which Tejedas is held. Minard's pride in Tejedas’ comeback is palpable, as he continued to praise his "courage, perseverance, and dedication to this department and community" in a statement obtained by the city's official news outlet.
Tejedas was one of three firefighters injured on May 30, 2024, when he and other members of the Gresham Fire Department, along with Portland Fire and Rescue, responded to a duplex fire. What began as a routine call quickly escalated into a more dangerous situation, resulting in injuries to three firefighters. While his two colleagues were treated and released the same day, Tejedas suffered the most critical injuries that required an extensive period of healing and rehabilitation.
The Gresham Fire Training Center will become Tejedas' new base of operations as he starts to slowly integrate back into the fold of the department. The transition is indeed emblematic of how the department values its members, with Minard expressing that "We are incredibly proud to welcome him back." Tejedas' experience, which was shaped by the very flames that once threatened to end his career, will now serve to stoke the passion of those embarking on their own journeys into a life of service.
