Firefighter LaNita Copeland

Today, we would like to introduce you to Firefighter LaNita Copeland. We appreciate Firefighter Copeland for her positive energy and enthusiasm toward fire prevention education. LaNita has an education in elementary teaching. She is using her education to help the community of Palmer and Palmer Fire & Rescue with a lot of great ideas that we look forward to incorporating in the local schools next fall.

Firefighter Copeland was born in LaGrande, Oregon as a middle child of seven children. She was raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. She moved to the Palmer community in January of 2014 with her husband of 28 years, Dr. Jeff Copeland. They have two, twin sons who live in Idaho.

LaNita likes baking, fitness, scuba diving, interior decorating and collecting/repurposing antiques and thrift shop items.

Shortly after moving to Palmer, a friend of LaNita’s challenged her to pursue becoming a member of Palmer Fire & Rescue when she said she was interested and wanted to learn more about her new community (thank you whoever that was!). She didn’t think she would qualify at first but gave it a try anyway and found not only did she qualify, but she found she loved it.

LaNita found it became a passion. Not just the work, but the fire community or family as well. She always dreamed of being a part of wildland firefighting as well. Her father was a smoke jumper and she felt that pull to forestry as well. As a result, Firefighter Copeland works six months of the year with the Department of Forestry working with the tanker bases.

LaNita has said, “I absolutely LOVE my fire family and I am grateful every day they are a part of my life!” Speaking on behalf of Palmer Fire & Rescue, the feeling is mutual. We appreciate everything Firefighter LaNita Copeland does for the Department and the community. Thank you!

If you think this could be you (Paid On-Call or Explorer), you believe in our mission statement, “We the members of the City of Palmer Fire & Rescue dedicate our efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of the public through preservation of life, property and our environment” and our values, then you belong in our “fire family”. You can find an application at:

https://www.palmerak.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/fire_amp_re...

We look forward to meeting you.