Jacksonville Review – June 2024
ON MAY 7, at the regular City Council meeting, Jacksonville Fire Chief Wayne Painter received the State of Oregon’s Fire Chief’s Association Award of Excellence. The award was presented in honor of his vision, dedication, and professionalism. Painter was nominated for the award by City Councilor Andrea Thompson, who has advocated on behalf of fire safety within the region. In her letter of support for Chief Painter, she noted Painter’s 30-year career where he rose through the ranks at Medford Fire to Captain and as a Move-Up Battalion Chief, to his current position as Jacksonville Fire Chief. At Medford, Painter earned numerous certifications and served on state and federal management teams.
Motivated by a desire to give back, Painter came out of retirement in 2019 to serve Jacksonville as its Interim Chief. During his time here, he has overseen the construction of a new fire station, accomplished by working alongside City Administrator, Jeff Alvis and the City Council, to secure a $1.3 million seismic grant to rebuild the station. After the remodel, he successfully raised over one million dollars in grant funding to equip the station with modern equipment, including turnouts, a turnout extractor, SCBA compressor, extrication tools, thermal imagers, etc. With the award of another grant, the city was able to create a new state-of-the art Emergency Ops Center on the station’s second floor. Painter spearheaded the City’s purchase of a new Type One Engine, assuring reliable responses for citizen emergencies. Grants for mobile data computers, radios, and other vehicle equipment followed.
Painter recently received grants to hire summertime firefighters when the risk of wildland and forest fires is the highest. He obtained a SAFER grant to create a Student Intern Program and collaborating with local and state agencies, Painter obtained grants allowing fuel reduction treatment of approximately 800 acres in and around the city. Painter is involved with community outreach; his grants support community fuel reduction events and encouraged the proliferation of Firewise communities. He successfully nominated Jacksonville’s Firewise Volunteer Director, Linda Davis, for an OSFM Silver Sparky award.
Under Chief Painter’s leadership, Jacksonville went from having a sub-standard fire department to having a cutting-edge department while raising the level of emergency services for its citizens. City Administrator Jeff Alvis said, “Chief Painter came into the city with a vision. He passionately owned that vision and has driven it to completion” Mayor Bowen exclaimed, “Chief Painter has been the most effective person in ensuring fire safety for our citizens, and we are forever grateful for his expertise and commitment.” On behalf of a grateful community, thank you and congratulations Fire Chief Wayne Painter.