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News

Medford Rural

Fire Protection District #2

Fire Department Update – Gordon Sletmoe, Fire Chief (Acting)

and MRFPD 2 allowing Medford

Fire-Rescue to serve and protect

you.

We are excited about the new

challenges and opportuni es fac-

ing us as we move into the fall and

winter months. We have recently

purchased land in Southwest Med-

ford to relocate Fire Sta on 2 and

we intend to begin site prepara-

on soon. This reloca on aligns

with our Emergency Services Mas-

ter Plan and will allow us to serve

you, our ci zens, even more effi-

ciently.

We are ac vely involved in CPR

Any�me, a program designed to

teach basic Cardio Pulmonary Re-

suscita on to a broad audi-

ence. Our goal this year is to teach

CPR to every 7th

grader in our jurisdic-

on.

We are also excited to greet new em-

ployees who will bring enthusiasm and

a fresh outlook to our organiza on

while we will miss those who have le-

to seek other challenges.

The Medford Rural Fire Protec on

District 2 has a rich history. You have a

dedicated Board of Directors each of

who are passionate about their respon-

sibili es to the ci zens in their dis-

trict. You can rest assured that you are

being served by a fire department and

board that care about your safety and

well-being. We make daily decisions

with your best interests in mind.

Thank you for the opportunity to

serve you.

Chief Gordon Sletmoe

Congratulations to Fire Inspector Ralph Sartain who was selected as Oregon International Associ-ation of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Fire Investigator of the Year. Ralph has worked for Medford Fire-Rescue for the past three years. He came to Med-ford Fire with 10 years Police Officer experience and works well with other agencies to solve inves-tigations. During his time with the Fire & Life Safe-ty Division, Ralph was the Lead Investigator in 72 fires and he assisted in another 22 investigations. Ralph was the Lead Fire Investigator in Jackson County’s most tragic arson case where a father killed his wife and four children and set the house on fire. The case handling and professional inves-tigation between the Medford Police and Fire De-

partments resulted in the sus-pect being sentenced in June 2013 to five life terms plus eight years without the possi-bility of parole. Inspector Sar-tain is currently acting as a li-aison with the Medford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to investigate an ongoing arsonist case in Medford. Fire Marshal Greg Kleinberg notes, “He has great interview skills and we count on him for solid inter-view and interrogation techniques. He always works hard to solve cases. Ralph is a great Fire Investiga-tor; an asset to our Department and our profession.”

Fall has fallen; at least it certainly

feels that way. This year marked

the busiest wildfire season in Ore-

gon for more than a decade, but

thankfully within the City of Med-

ford and the Medford Rural Fire

Protec on District 2 we remained

rela vely unscathed. Your fire de-

partment was prepared for any

emergency throughout the fire sea-

son with fully staffed fire sta ons,

well equipped wildland and struc-

tural fire figh ng vehicles, home-

owner wildfire safety educa on,

and an ongoing rural mapping pro-

gram.

Our ci zens are our highest pri-

ority and we value the partnership

that has existed for more than 60

years between the City of Medford

Sartain Announced Arson Investigator of the Year – Fire Marshal Greg Kleinberg

P A G E 2

On July 5th, 2013, Medford Fire-Rescue’s

Tom McGowan was deployed to Presco<,

Arizona to provide peer support and Cri cal

Incident Stress Management following the

Granite Mountain Hot Shot tragedy. 19 fire-

fighters were killed when overrun by a

wildland fire just outside Presco<, Arizona.

Tom has training and background in behav-

ioral health and peer support. With the com-

bined financial support of the local Interna-

onal Associa on of Firefighters (IAFF), the

City of Medford and the Medford Rural Fire

Medford Reaching out with a Helping Hand

Protec on District 2, Tom joined a team

from LA County Fire and provided much

needed relief to the personnel in Presco<.

The team members were able to provide

assistance, hope and encouragement to the

families of the fallen firefighters. Tom en-

countered many people and events that

will resonate in his heart forever.

He extends his sincere thanks for the mul-

ple agency support for such a meaningful

opportunity.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. and a significant con-

tributor to home fire deaths. It is also the leading cause of fire injuries.

Cooking fires cause a na onal yearly average of nearly 400 civilian deaths

and nearly 5,000 civilian injuries. The Na onal Fire Protec on Associa on

(NFPA) reports cooking fires account for two of every five reported home

fires (42%) and reported home fire injuries (38%), and 15% of home fire

deaths. The most common cause of these fires is leaving cooking food un-

a<ended. O-en the fire starts within the first 15 minutes of cooking,

showing that there is no safe period of me to leave cooking una<ended.

These fires are preventable.

Safety Tips to Reduce the Risk of Cooking Fires and Injuries:

• Make sure combus ble items, such as rags, pot holders, curtains, and

bags are kept far from the cooking surface. Do not store combus ble items

in the range storage drawer.

• Don’t leave food cooking on the stovetop unless you are in the kitchen and keep a close eye on food cooking inside the

oven. Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all other appliances are turned off.

• Don’t cook if you are drowsy or feeling the effects of alcohol, medica on or other drugs.

• Roll up sleeves and don’t wear loose-fiIng clothing.

• Clean cooking equipment regularly to remove grease or cooking material that can ignite.

• Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by crea ng a three foot “kid free zone” around the stove.

• Turn pot handles inward to avoid spills. Always use a potholder when reaching for handles.

• Heat oil gradually to avoid geIng burned from spla<ering grease. Use extra cau on when preparing deep-

fried foods.

• Never use the range or oven to heat your home. In addi on to being a fire hazard, toxic fumes may result.

• In the event of a cooking fire:

∗ If the fire is small, put a lid on the pan or use baking soda to smother it, or use a fire ex nguisher.

∗ Never throw water on a grease fire. Remember to turn off the burner.

∗ If a fire involves your clothing, stop, drop and roll un l the fire is out.

∗ If the fire is rapidly growing, evacuate your home and call the Fire Department immediately. When in doubt, get out.

∗ Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom and on every level of your home. Test smoke alarms each month to ensure

they are working and replace the ba<eries as needed. A working smoke alarm more than doubles one's chances of

surviving a fire.

Addi onal Cooking Safety Informa on: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/cooking.shtm

Battalion Chief Tom McGowan

Fire Safety in the Kitchen – Greg Kleinberg, Fire Marshal

On October 16th, Tom McGowan was promoted to the position of Medford Fire-Rescue’s Battalion Chief of Training & Safety. Tom previously worked at Grants Pass Fire where he was a Company Officer for several years. Tom was hired with Medford Fire in 2011 as a Firefighter. He is on the Behavioral Health committee, and he is an instructor at Rogue Com-munity College teaching the Fire Academy and EMS classes. Tom says “I look forward to working with a well established group of individuals who have a repu-tation of setting the bar for fire training systems in the Rogue Valley. Congratulations Tom!

Firefighter Manny Sharp

New Employees

Firefighter Westin Hammer

The Rogue Community College (RCC) Emergen-cy Services program received a big boost from Med-ford Rural Fire Protection District 2 when they agreed to sell a retired fire pumper to RCC for $15,000. The 1993 Pierce Arrow fire engine served the district for 20 years. Now it will be used as a training vehicle for RCC students who hope to be-come firefighters after graduation. Gary Heigel, RCC's department chairman of emergency services, noted there's nothing better than having students train on the real thing. Med-ford Fire-Rescue Acting Chief Gordon Sletmoe said the original engine cost $207,000. "The last two en-gines we've purchased recently have cost $549,000.” RCC will use the engine during live fire trainings held throughout the year. This will give the students hands-on experience before they take a position with a fire agency. Sletmoe hopes that by improving RCC's fire sci-ence classes it will deepen the recruiting pool of Medford Fire-Rescue applicants. "This is a mutually beneficial business transaction and we are pleased to provide the engine" Sletmoe said. RCC hosts about two fire academies each year, and each class is filled with approximately 30 stu-dents. Anyone interested in joining RCC's emergency services program can learn more about the require-ments and curriculum at :

www.roguecc.edu/EmergencyServices

Training Chief Promotion

Retired Engine Benefits Students

Administrative Assistant

Maureen Doyle

Administrative Assistant

Heather Mook

Firefighter Byran Studebaker

Firefighter Jeff Benyo

News

Medford Rural Fire Protection District #2 200 South Ivy, #180 Medford, OR 97501

Medford Rural

Fire Protection

District #2

Fire Dept Web Site: www.medfordfirerescue.org