Hometown Hero Made Honorary SLRFD Member

SEELEY LAKE – "10-4" was three-year-old Addy Trevino's response when her number was called over the radio and welcomed by Missoula 9-1-1 Dispatch as the newest member of the Seeley Lake Rural Fire Department. Trevino, known to many as Addy Boo, was made an honorary member #799 during a ceremony April 29. She is officially the youngest member of the Seeley Lake Fire Department and one of two honorary members ever given by the Department.

"In June of last year Addy and her family began a battle that few of us will ever be able to fathom, understand or comprehend," said Seeley Lake Interim Fire Chief Michael Greer referring to her diagnosis of DIPG, an inoperable brain tumor. "She has spent more time with doctors and in hospitals than most people will in their entire lifetime. Through it all she has been a shining inspiration to everyone around her and everyone that knows her."

While working on a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant, Seeley Lake Fire Department firefighter, EMT and Officer Candidate Kody Kelley read about hometown heroes. The idea clicked to make Addy Boo an honorary member of the department.

"Addy is our Hometown Hero," said Kelley who immediately put the wheels in motion for the ceremony. "She has done more to bring our community of 2,000 people together in the past 10 months than it took to bring two people together in 65 years."

Greer said that Addy Boo loves the fire department, climbing all over the fire engines and hanging out with the firefighters. He said her passion for the Fire Service rivals many on the department who have done it for a career.

"We decided that that kind of passion for what we do is something we want to be a part of our department," said Greer.

Greer told those in attendance that being a firefighter means helping people and being a part of the community. "It is about selfless dedication and always doing everything in your power to put others and their life and safety first."

Greer shared about the brotherhood of firefighters and the duty and responsibility that comes with that. It encompasses all sexes, creeds, races and, in Addy's case, ages.

Being a firefighter also means being a part of a larger extended family, a family that will drop everything and come to help when needed. Greer said once Addy becomes a firefighter, she along with her parents Jen and Treay and older sister Miya also become part of the family.

"Addy has demonstrated through her incredible courage, endurance and never ending sweet kind spirit in the face of overwhelming challenges that she already has what it takes to be a part of the firefighter brotherhood and family," said Greer. "She has brought this entire community together in a very powerful way, in a way that maybe no one else could."

Greer talked about how some define firefighters as heroes because they rush into burning buildings.

"I think a hero is an ordinary individual that finds strength to persevere and endurance in spite of overwhelming obstacles. It's not about what you can do. It's about what you can endure and keep moving forward," said Greer. "By that definition, Addy and her entire family are the heroes in this room today."

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