Ear: Conley

Ashland resident Kevin P. Conley Jr., a wildland firefighter, is on a bike ride from Astoria to San Francisco, around 1,000 miles, to raise money and awareness for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which helps the families of firefighters killed in the line of duty, and assists injured firefighters and their families.

“What I love about the job is the purpose and the passion. I think those are two important things we have to have in life,” he told KPTV. But there’s a serious downside, too. “Six months out of the year, you go zero to 100. You have this huge purpose, and then all of a sudden in October, November, you’re cut off, and you kind of lose your purpose. And that’s a hard thing for a lot of wildland firefighters.”

The International Association of Wildland Fire estimates suicide claims 25 to 30 firefighter lives every year because of residual trauma after the job is done. Conley himself suffered from depression and severe anxiety, and went to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation for help.

He fought to regain his peace, and part of the process was getting on his bicycle for a cross-country fundraising ride for the foundation. He has raised thousands of dollars for the foundation, and also published a book about hope and healing, “Above the Ashes.” A visual blog of the current ride is at bit.ly/KPConleyJr.

“Take care of the people around you,” Conley advises. “Take care of yourself, but do things that are greater than you.” (Photo: Kevin P. Conley Jr.)