Local firefighter turns up the heat

Meet Mr. February, Robert Shelley, and other firefighters featured in the WSCFF Burn Foundation calendar, at Leatherheads on Saturday. “Calendar Boy” doesn’t mind the ribbing from fellow firefighters.

For Robert Shelley, a 10-year veteran of the Stanwood/Camano Fire Department and Camano Island resident, the term of endearment is motivating.

By shedding layers of his daily uniform for a calendar photo shoot, the current Mr. February is raising some pulses, as well as some dollars, for the Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF) Burn Foundation.

“The jokes are all in good fun,” said Shelley. “The bottom line is — money is collected for a great cause.”

WSCFF’s Burn Foundation provides crucial funding for burn research through the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Rod Heivilin, WSCFF’s executive director and sole employee, established the foundation in 1987 while he wasn’t fighting fires with the Shoreline Fire Department. He retired from the department in 2002.

The foundation’s “seed money” for research, said Heivilin, has resulted in highly acclaimed and widely accepted changes in burn care. A virtual reality program, developed by doctors at Harborview, helps limit the vast amounts of highly-addictive opiates traditionally used for burn victims during painful treatments and cleanings.

“As a result, fewer patients are becoming addicts,” said Heivilin. “The program is especially popular with young burn victims.”

Heivilin initially raised funds to research such programs through traditional means: holding gatherings at restaurants, sponsoring golf tournaments and coordinating events with fire department unions.

In 1996, he tried something new.A

poster featuring Washington state firefighters with “just enough sex appeal to garner the attention of the public” was born, he said.

Since then, the poster has expanded to a full-size wall calendar created by professional graphic designers and photographers who volunteer their time.

“The calendar has become our number one fundraiser,” he said. “And it continues to be that.”

In its 15th year, the calendar still attracts attention.

“People don’t buy it for the dates,” said Heivilin.

The fervor has allowed the foundation to broaden its mission.

“We do grand things with the money we get,” he said.

In addition to funding ongoing burn research, the burn foundation has established a smoke alarm distribution program for low-income families and elderly residents, sponsored a fire safety museum, created scald prevention kits for new mothers and actively sponsors children with burn injuries to attend Camp Phoenix, a week-long summer camp in Bow, Wash.

Visiting the children during the camp in August, said Shelley, puts his involvement with the calendar into perspective.

“You get a tear in your eye every visit,” he said. “My focus has always been to raise money for the kids.”

However, competition to be selected for the calendar is fierce.

This is the second year in a row Shelley has won the rights to grace the pages. Last year, he was Mr. April.

To be considered, applicants must be full-time firefighters in Washington state. Judging events, used as a fundraising outlet for WSCFF, are held in May. Individuals purchase the right to judge contestants during auctions sponsored by various other charities. Money raised from the auctions is split with the cooperating charity. Representatives from medical organizations and the media also participate in the selection process.

When Shelley was looking to get more involved in a charitable cause, his wife, Tamara, encouraged him to apply.

Actually, she pushed him into it, he said.

Regardless, the results have been rewarding.

“All firefighters have to stay in shape, it’s part of our job,” said Shelley. “Working to get in the calendar has driven me to push harder.”

This year, 19 firefighters (men and women ranging in age from their 20s to 50s) were able to show off their work in the gym. The resulting shots were enhanced by images from an actual practice fire.

To promote the calendar, Shelley, and up to three other “calendar months,” will be at Leatherheads Pub and Eatery in Stanwood on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. to meet the public and sign autographs.

“Firefighters drive from all over the state for events and signings,” he said. “It gets to be an extended family.”

Heivilin praised the efforts of everyone involved.

“To have wonderful volunteers, from the firefighters to the production crew, is truly a blessing,” he said. “Robert is a kick. It’s been a lot of fun to work with him for the past two years.”

For more information on the WSCFF Burn Foundation, or to purchase a calendar online, visit www.firefightercalendar.com.