Learn About Our Team
Hazmat & Rescue Instruction comes with decades of experience from the instructors.
Our instructors have experienced multiple careers and backgrounds in the realm of fire and emergency response with a focus on Hazmat and Technical Rescue.
They have commanded multiple critical events and trained thousands of students, they have extensive personal knowledge in the skills and roles of Fire, Rescue, and Hazardous Materials responses as well as many other advanced certifications and training.
All personalized lesson plans adhere to NFPA 470, OSHA 29 CFR 1910. 120, as well as all state-level regulations. Information for lesson plans come from the instructor's extensive background and experience.
Click the Play button to learn more. Come on - you know you want to.
Line up and see just how cool we are.
We like to think we are a team with personality. We stand in lines just like you - but you know what, we like to do it with style!
We all ought to have some fun in life - whether that’s on the job training or drinking beer. Check out this video clip and learn a bit more about us at Hazmat and Rescue Instruction.
Chris Pfaff
Homebase: Tacoma, WA
Experience: 18 Years
Specialties: Hazmat Technician, Highway Emergency Response Specialist, Tank Car Specialist, Hazmat Train-the-Trainer, HAZWOPER Train-the-Trainer, Hazmat Branch Manager (FEMA), Rescue Technician, Certified First Aid/CPR/AED instructor.
Bio: Chris Pfaff has been instructing students on a frequent basis since 2012, and has been certified with Fire Instructor 1 since 2009. Chris currently instructs at Bates Technical College, multiple fire agencies across Washington State, for the Washington State Patrol, and is the lead Hazmat instructor at West Pierce Fire & Rescue. Beyond work, Chirs likes working on classic and new cars, watching AAA baseball games in Tacoma, and traveling to Blues Festivals across the country. In 2019 Chris almost attained perfection when he bowled a 298 at his local bowling alley, Pacific Lanes, home of the Late great Earl Anthony.
Jensene Linenko
Homebase: Tacoma, WA
Experience: 10+ years
Specialties: Director of Personnel (You down with DOP? Yeah you know me!)
Bio: Do you have people that need directing? Well here I am. For years I have been in charge of running some of the city and counties largest events. I decided to tone back my efforts and focus solely on HAZMAT! I mean, why wouldn't someone want to focus on Hazmat as it is the most fun and engaging subject out there? I have worked with PHRT Instruction for several years now and have made great strides in writing curriculum, preparing workbooks, test books, and handout material, traveling to various conferences and classes, and one time I even got to teach! Exciting as that was, I decided to step back and enjoy my role doing all of the back end stuff that coincides with running a business. I do love me some mundane computer work and editing. I do the grunt work and let the instructors take the credit. In my off time (which is scarce) I enjoy all the music, food, and beers I can get my hands on.
Noel Fitzgerald
Homebase: Milton, WA
Experience: 40 Years
Specialties: Officer 1, EMT-B, Hazmat Technician
Bio: I am a Research Chemist and Captain so of course like to play with chemicals, especially if they burn or blow up! I answer to Capt Fitzy, Dr. Fitzy, or if you are really daring, Chemnoel. I started as a Junior Firefighter in high school and am now on my ninth fire department as my career slowly drifted from MI to IL to CO to WA. I love teaching HazMat Ops. In my spare time, I enjoy anything around water (except for fishing), hiking, and trying chocolates from all around the world.
Jerry Hamilton
Homebase: Lakewood, WA
Experience: 27 Years
Specialties: Paramedic, Rescue Technician, HAZMAT Tech, CBRNE Specialist, Tank Car Specialist, TOX-Medic, Long Range Shooter, Father, Department Punk
Bio: I am first and foremost a family man and a man of faith. My callings are hunting, fishing, cattle husbandry, and long walks on the beach. I enjoy an occasional dirt bike jaunt over a few sand dunes and dabble in snow boarding. Occasionally I like to attend some new fancy college or trade school but mostly spend my days as a road nurse for the local hazard mitigation department.
Craig Dyer
Homebase: Gig Harbor, WA
Experience: 22 Years
Specialties: Tractor-Drawn Aerial (tiller truck) Driver w/ CDL class A, Hazmat Technician w/ specialties in Tank Cars, Highway, Crude Oil, and Radiation.
Bio: My firefighting life began in the halls of high school where I contemplated the perfect career, to achieve my highest station in life, to realize my greatest potential. Then it happened, like a beacon of hope, "Volunteers Needed, Apply Within." That was King County Fire District 20, in little ole Skyway, Washington. It was several years and many tests later that the Seattle Fire Department gave me a shot at the big time. In my twenty plus years with the SFD, I have been at residential and downtown stations, the Assigned Driver of both an Engine company and currently a Ladder company, and taken part in various committees and teaching groups. Additional wonderful surprises along the way include becoming member of the Washington State Task Force (FEMA US&R Team) and assigned to two deployments, one as a Driver and one as a HazMat Specialist. Both deployments were remarkably different and each had distinct learning opportunities for which I am grateful. As I reflect on my career and prepare for the not-so-distant phase of Retirement, I wonder... is this it? I had much bigger hopes for myself when I was wandering the halls of high school, maybe even a bit lost.
Bret Stohr
Homebase: Sumner, WA
Experience: 42 Years
Specialties: IFSAC Fire Officer IV, Fire Instructor III, Fire Inspector III, Specializing in: HazMat Response, Emergency Planning, and Strategy and Tactics instruction
Bio: I am a 40+ year fire service veteran. I retired as an Operations Division Assistant Fire Chief; my most recent assignment was at Joint Base Lewis/McChord in Washington State. A Department of Defense Firefighter of The Year and U.S. Air Force Fire Officer and Chief Fire Officer of The Year award recipient, I have over 30 years' experience developing and instructing Hazardous Materials Emergency Response, Emergency Incident Strategy and Tactics, Structural/Aircraft Fire Suppression & Rescue, EMS, and Incident Safety Officer courses.
I co-founded the South Puget Sound Regional Hazmat Teams Program, was Vice Chair of the Pierce County Local Emergency Planning Committee, worked on the Department of Homeland Security Target Capabilities Program and the International Association of Fire Chiefs Hazmat Fusion Center Program, and was honored with a “Life Membership” by the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs Hazmat and Special Operations Division.
Jason Rickey
Homebase: Tacoma, WA
Experience: 29 Years
Specialties: Paramedic, Hazmat Tech, Fire Officer 2, Blue Card Instructor, Instructor 2, ISO, Hzmt ISO
