Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue has announced the retirement of a much-respected figure within their ranks. Captain Troy Spisla, who has a distinguished career in fire service spanning decades, is hanging up his helmet. According to a social media post by TVF&R, Spisla's journey began before he became part of their team, working as a firefighter-paramedic for Washington County Fire District 2, and honing his life-saving skills as a paramedic for AMR and with the McMinnville Fire Department.
His tenure at TVF&R started on January 4, 1999, and through the years, Captain Spisla rose quickly through the ranks. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2001 and then to the role of captain on April 1, 2006. His career has been punctuated with notable recognitions that highlight a man who acted with professionalism and courage when it mattered most. In the year 2009, he was honored with an Award of Excellence for his leadership amidst a spate of arson fires in his community. In 2021, another feather was added to his cap with a Citizen Lifesaving Award for his "quick and effective off-duty response to a trauma that aided in saving a life in July 2020."
It wasn't just these highlighted incidents that defined Spisla's career. The fire captain was known among peers as someone who possessed a knack for steering his team into the heart of the action, from multi-alarm fires to active shooter situations, and from serious car crashes to other emergencies requiring calm authority. His approach to such scenarios has earned him the moniker "a moth to the flame," as he consistently placed his team in positions where their expertise could yield the most benefit.
TVF&R's post reflects a combination of pride and sadness at the departure of such a dependable figure: "Congratulations, Captain Spisla, and best wishes on a well-deserved retirement!" Spisla's commitment to his work and the people he served sets a formidable example for those still on the job. His career not only demarcates a personal era of service but a chapter of steadfast dedication to the safety and well-being of the community he served with such distinction.
