File photo / The OutlookBob Layton, 71, has been everything from driver to chief at the Corbett fire station. He will be recognized as the honored guest at the annual firefighters breakfast at the Corbett fire hall, 36930 S.E. Historic Columbia River Highway.
The annual breakfast, which raises scholarships for local students who want to be firefighters or paramedics, will continue until 11:30 a.m.
The honored guest for the day will be longtime Corbett volunteer Bob Layton, who got his first taste of the job in 1952, when he was pulled from his high school classroom to help fight a brush fire. He joined District 14 in 1957, served as chief from 1976 to 1980, and has twice been recognized as Oregon’s volunteer of the year.
“He just keeps giving and giving to the department,” says former chief Dennis Bryson. “Today he still carries on at the same pace as he did in earlier years.”
Layton responded to 393 calls in 2005, despite some health problems that included heart surgery 25 years ago.
“Just a few years ago I observed him operating a water tender at a house fire while on crutches,” Bryson said.
Saturday’s annual breakfast will be an opportunity to congratulate Layton. The event also will include fire engines, door prizes, balloons, old cars and Sparky the Fire Dog. Cost is $4.50 for adults and $2.75 for children younger than 10.
