For 43 years, Spokane Fire Department Capt. Greg Borg, 68, has answered the call – actually thousands of calls.
This week he served his final shift, like all the ones before it, scrambling into his turnout gear and into the rig at Station 18 in North Spokane, heading out with lights flashing and sirens blaring, to help those in need.
For him, retirement isn’t due to burnout.
“I love it,” he said. “I love what I do.”
The 1968 Shadle grad knew a couple of firefighters growing up.
“They were good guys,” Borg said. “It seemed like something I’d like to do.”
He worked at fire departments in Boise and Richland before joining the SFD in 1978. He quickly discovered his favorite part of the job.
“I love going out on calls,” he said. “I love seeing what’s on the other end. Every shift is different.”
He also quickly discovered that dealing with death is an occupational hazard. Borg can’t count how many fatalities he’s responded to, including a recent death that still haunts him.