Fire Inspector
Bend Fire & Rescue
Bend, Oregon, United States
I am a Fire Inspector and Investigator for the City of Bend Fire & Rescue, in Central Oregon, working in the Prevention Division. I have been in this role for 3 years and have spent the last 22 years as a wildland firefighter, serving as an Engine Captain for the Forest Service before leaving the suppression side. Before my time with the Forest Service, I spent five years as a Crew Supervisor for an inmate wildfire hand crew, with Oregon Department of Forestry. My career started in 2002, the day after I graduated high school and became a seasonal wildland firefighter. From there, I became an EMT and worked for CalFire for 8 years in the Paradise, California area. I had a home there in 2018, and that was lost to the Camp Fire.
Additionally, I am responsible for conducting commercial business inspections for the Southeast side of Bend, and all Wildfire Mitigation education for Bend Fire. In 2022, I created the Own Your Zone: First Five Feet Campaign to educate homeowners about structure-to-structure ignition and the relationship associated with close proximity living and wildfire hazards. This campaign has become very popular, and we have successfully added over 20 Firewise communities in two years.
I am also the program coordinator for all things CRR and I lead the Safety Outreach for Seniors (SOS) home assessment programs. I would have to say that my greatest accomplishment so far, has been being accepted as a new instructor for the National Fire Academy, teaching Fire Adapted Communities in Wildfire courses.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Own Your Zone: First Five Feet
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM MST