Shawn Ellinghouse - Captain 704

Shawn Ellinghouse has been a volunteer firefighter for 16 years, all with the Seeley Lake Rural Fire Department (SLRFD).

During the summer of 2000, Ellinghouse said the SLRFD was really shorthanded. The chief at the time, Joe Ellinghouse, told him that he needed help. With no prior experience in fire, Ellinghouse signed up.

During the summer of 2002, Ellinghouse spent 28 days on a fire in Oregon on the Biscuit Fire.

"That changed my whole attitude towards fire," said Ellinghouse. "I used to be afraid of fire. But when I got to see running crown fire down hill, got to do backburns with hot shot...