In her 21 years with the Auburn Fire Department and Valley Regional Fire Authority, Janeen Ruge, Auburn’s first female firefighter, delivered at least five babies and calmed many frightened patients.
As a certified member of VRFA’s Technical Rescue Team, she plucked imperiled people from fast-moving waters, handled hazardous materials, and helped with structural collapses and rope rescues. She was a technical safety officer and an instructor for confined space rescue and rope rescue courses.
But working with her fellow crew members, Ruge said, now that was tops — nothing could beat it.
On June 12, having forged a path for others to follow and having passed along a wealth of knowledge, Ruge retired.