Charles "Mex" Parks , June 30, 2010

In his interview with Alicia Martin-Cowger on June 30, 2010, Charlie Parks, who served with the Boise Fire Department, offered memories of his career as a firefighter from 1968-1993. He spoke on the following topics: recruitment and training of new firefighters; life in the firehouse; his reasons for entering the fire service; his impressions and memories of medical calls; the Eastman fire and other emergency responses; firehouse pranks; the effects on department morale of the 1% Tax Reduction Initiative passed by the Idaho legislature in 1978; his involvement in the union that included election to the grievance committee and nine years as union president; department and city politics; relations between firefighters on the line and administration in the department and in the city; the leadership of various fire chiefs; his transition to retirement; and his involvement with the Idaho Retired Firefighters Association in which he currently serves as president.