Becoming a Volunteer Firefighter

When one of our residents needs help, they call the local fire department.  Whether it is a fire or medical emergency, they expect help.  When that help comes, a volunteer from the community responds.  What would you think if no one responded?  Everyone in our community needs someone who cares and is willing to step up and help our neighbors when they are in need.  That someone can be you.  Volunteering allows us to give something back to our community.  Today, there are many demands on our time, and firefighting or emergency services require specialized training.  There are many reasons not to volunteer.  However, if you have a sense of civic pride, if you want to see immediate results of a job well done, if you have the heart and spirit to make your community a better place to live, consider volunteering with McKenzie Fire and Rescue.

Contact Training Officer Lieutenant Steve Straily by phone
(541) 746-6312 or e-mail sstraily@mckenziefire.com.

Volunteer Fire Fighters:  The volunteer fire and emergency medical service is a challenging, exciting and rewarding experience conveniently condensed into one package.  McKenzie Fire & Rescue requires new volunteers to attend a Recruit Academy to become trained in fire and EMS operations before he or she can respond on a call.  The majority of the 9-1-1 calls are fires, medical emergencies or motor vehicle accidents.  However, the volunteers are also expected to respond to more specific and technical emergencies such as water rescues, hazardous materials incidents, extrication, steep angle rescues and even farm animal rescues.  They receive specialized training and carry specialized equipment to mitigate those emergencies.  During the summer months, the firefighters respond to many wild fires and brush fires, both in the district and as members of a countywide strike team that helps protect the entire state.  The volunteers are almost exclusively the first to respond to any type of emergency in the district.  We currently have 60 volunteer firefighters and always welcome more.

Our volunteers are McKenzie Valley citizens who live inside the fire district.  Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and be able to pass a general physical agility test.  The district holds weekly training both Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening to accommodate all work schedules.  75% attendance at drill is required.

Current Calendar
Upcoming Training Events