La Grande Fire Department reports full staffing: Final firefighter off probation
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
LA GRANDE – The La Grande Fire Department hit a major milestone last week. The LGFD reports that firefighter LePage has officially completed his probation period and is now a fully qualified city firefighter. As written by the LGFD in a recent social media announcement:
“His hard work, dedication and commitment to our department throughout this process have been exceptional and we are proud to have him locked in as a full-fledged member of the team.”
This ceremony is also a milestone for the department as a whole. During a city council meeting last week, LGFD Fire Chief Merle Laci announced that, with LePage’s pinning, the department is officially fully staffed and at full strength, with all members off their probation.
Of course, there’s always more to do. Laci further noted that two firefighters are finishing their paramedic training, with two more expected to start training this week. When this final round of training finishes, the department will be both fully staffed and fully certified.
Congratulations to Firefighter LePage and the City of La Grande Fire Department on their hard work!
