Longview Firefighters Pickleball Community Fitness: Firefighters from the Longview Fire Department in Washington are using pickleball to stay fit and connect with residents. Almost every week, they bring fire trucks and ambulances to Clary Courts at John Null Park, where they meet exercise goals while building relationships in the area they serve.
A Sport for All
Pickleball has become popular nationwide. Firefighter Skylar Daugherty said it is a game that “is scalable for all.” Firefighter Dane Crater explained that former station officer Brett Johnson introduced the game to the crew during the pandemic.
“So they taped lines in the bay, we pulled the rigs out of the bay, and he brought portable nets and we set it up and they played at the station,” Daugherty said.
“When we couldn’t go to the gym with COVID, that was our (required personal training) at the house instead,” Crater said.
When the Longview Pickleball Club renovated Clary Courts in 2023, the fire department helped clean the courts using an engine hose. Soon after, they began using them for regular workouts. Some firefighters even joined the club.
According to department spokesperson Angela Abel, the International Association of Fire Fighters allows and encourages firefighters to do one hour of physical training each shift. Daugherty said the sport has also helped improve their connection with the community.
“They get to learn about what our day looks like a lot,” he said. “When we first started coming out here, there was a lot of like, ‘Hey, what are you guys doing? What’s your day look like?…
“It’s just been a great way to get to know some of the community members and kind of build some bonds and friendships, and now you know, we see them around town sometimes, whether we’re going on calls or going to do our other duties, which are like business inspections, things like that. It’s just nice to have a well-rounded approach to the community as a whole.”
Helping the Community Faster
Playing near the neighborhood has also led to quicker emergency responses. Battalion Chief Eric Koreis said their shifts are 24 hours, starting at 7:30 a.m., with fitness time around 10:30 a.m. after their morning tasks.
Games can be interrupted by emergency calls, so firefighters keep their gear ready in their trucks. Koreis said it takes less than 90 seconds for them to respond.
“During a recent fire in the neighborhood, the crew was already at the courts and responded in just two minutes,” Abel said. “That rapid response allowed us to contain the fire early and limit damage to the home.”
Abel added, “a similar incident on the same street a month later had a slower response time of over two minutes longer because the nearest crew had to travel from much farther away.”
Koreis noted that being in the area where the proposed Station 83 will be built offers better call coverage and acts as a temporary station when needed.
“We’re always ready to give a little tour (of the trucks) or handout stickers,” Koreis said. “We’re really just looking for any kind of positive interaction.”
Looking Ahead
While the Longview Fire Department continues to push for a third station, using Clary Courts has helped firefighters maintain fitness, respond quickly to emergencies, and strengthen ties with residents. Their presence on the courts serves as both training and community outreach, making them more visible and approachable.
News in Brief: Longview Firefighters Pickleball Community Fitness
Longview Fire Department firefighters in Washington play pickleball at Clary Courts to stay fit, bond with locals, and improve emergency response times. The sport, introduced during the pandemic, has strengthened community ties while serving as a form of training. Their location near calls has helped save crucial minutes during emergencies.
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