A grand party for the chief
July 26, 2012
After decades spent in a variety of fire apparatus, Cliff Kroger got to ride Bonners Ferry Engine 55 for his 90th birthday ride to a surprise birthday party at the town fire hall he served in for so many years.
Somehow, despite hundreds knowing the secret, news of Cliff Kroger's surprise 90th birthday party this afternoon didn't reach him, and he was all smiles when his "limousine," Engine 55, dropped him off at the Bonners Ferry Fire Hall, where generations of local firefighters were on hand to hail the chief.

Some of them were but kids when Cliff took the reins at the Bonners Ferry Fire Department in 1987, having started there as a firefighter in 1969 after a life spent chasing smoke. Those "kids" were on hand to celebrate the milestone with Cliff and his family, not so young anymore, but are now the old-timers raising teaching today's young firefighters, often the selfsame lessons they learned from Cliff.

The party was a great success, with young and old alike there to honor a Bonners Ferry legend, enjoy great company, great food and not one but two beautiful birthday cakes!
Firefighters from throughout Boundary County, both seasoned veterans and those who one day will be, were on hand Thursday evening to wish Chief Cliff Kroger, who retired from the BFFD in 1997 at age 75, a happy 90th birthday.
It wasn't only firefighters helping Cliff celebrate, either, as a lot of Cliff's younger friends were there for the birthday party, too!
Cliff wasn't only the guest of honor, his picture was also the crowning touch one one of his two beautiful birthday cakes.
In addition to years of dedicated service, Cliff created a scrapbook of the history of the Bonners Ferry Fire Department that will be his lasting gift to the community.
Another guest of honor at Cliff's 90th birthday celebration was the latest "Major." For as long as anyone can remember, Cliff's companion, both at home and on fire calls, was a boxer named Major.