"Tall Tim"

Retired Firefighter, Husband, Father, Son, Friend, Director For First Responders

"Tall" Tim Sears, a 44 year veteran in the fire service, started as a volunteer in Toppenish on the Yakima Indian Nation Reservation at the age of 16. 40 years from the start if his career in 2018, he began waking with horrible night sweats, then nightmares. Soon his sleep was effected, unable to sleep 4 nights out of the week...then the thoughts of being "Done" for good began to consume him. Tim's wife, who he still lovingly calls has "bride" begged him to retire believing it would help his symptoms. "NOPE" things got way worse.

Then out of the blue, Stronger Families calls him about a job? Director For First Responders. He thought "Anyone but me" but the world had a bigger plan for him. After meeting with them a few times, he told them he thought their programs was great, but he was not their guy. He was broken physically, mentally and spiritually. His "bride" encouraged him to try thinking it would get his mind off missing being a firefighter and then he really learned what was wrong with him... "PTSD". Since then, Tim has been on a mission to improve his quality of life and recover from the unrelenting symptoms PTSD can bring about. He lives by the acronym CNEI, which means Constant never ending improvement.

After 44 years in the fire service, having served in 4 different fire departments. Tim found a new life for himself. Tim is now the Director of First Responders for Stronger Families. Tim was actively involved in water rescue, tillered ladder truck ops, safety committee, fire investigator, hazmat, PEER support, a board member on KFFBA Benevolent Fund, and active in his IAFF Union Local 2545. Tim retired in 2021 from the Kirkland Fire Department with many department accommodations for his 30 years of service.