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Michele

Female

Helix, Oregon

United States

Profile Information:

Type of Organization: Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer
Job Function: Fire Chief / Chief of Department, EMS Chief / Division Head
Years in Fire/EMS:: 20 years
Primary Fire/EMS Department:: Helix, Oregon
Years With Department/Agency: 10 years
Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations: District 12A Training Association
Apple Valley City Fire Department
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
San Bernardino County Fire Dept.
My Training:: FF2, EMT-B, Instructor 1 And you get the idea, 20 years of training adds up to a really long boring list of classes and certificates.
About Me:: Let's see, I grew up as the Captain's daughter, swore to myself that I would never work in the same station as my step dad because of the headaches that would cause. But about 6mos after turning 18, I couldn't stand to not be a part of it so I joined the local PCF station where he was also a Captain. Needless to say, there were challenging times but I wouldn't change it. I met my husband of 18 years in that dept. and got my first taste of the being a firefighter. The rest is history you might say. Over the course, I've tried to give up suppression because as a Mom it can be dangerous and little ones made it difficult to respond as much as I would have liked. I went into prevention and all the while my heart ached to be back on the engines. Following my heart, I returned to the suppression end of it and continued to work hard and to learn a lot. Recently I was promoted to Fire Chief. Now I'm REALLY working hard and learning A LOT! :) So in a nutshell, there's the Cliffnote version of my story. Zip me an email if you have any questions or comments.
Relationship Status:: Married
Facebook or Other Online Profile:: http://myspace.com/trooperchelly
Why I Joined Fire/EMS: It's in my blood. My Dad is a retired Captain for the Space Shuttle Rescue Team at Edwards AFB. After experiencing the fire service through him I knew there was nothing else that would satisfy me.
Why I Love Fire/EMS: being able to help my neighbor when no one else can.
Top Issues Facing Responders:: Being everything to everyone at any time and being good at it.

Comment Wall:

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Steve Shore

Hi I just joined the Oregon Group and I'm just starting to get my site done.

Have a great Day!

Oct 8, 2007
Danny

Hi michele how are ya doing..hope ya have a great week take care.....

Oct 16, 2007
AARON POYNTER

hello michele just visited your site and just wanted to say hi and have a great day

Oct 18, 2007
Danny

Hi there..well glad ya got the stuff done and now on to new things again..well hope ya have a great rest of the weekend...

Oct 20, 2007
Danny

hey there i got an email that there is a request for strike teams from this area to go to cali..so will see what happens..I would like to go but won't be able to due to work..

Oct 23, 2007
Danny

i know just looken at the fire behavior is just extreme..anyways the five agencies in benton sent rigs down there they left this morning...so whats up in your dist anything good...

Oct 25, 2007
scott kauhn

hope you have a good and safe weekend

Oct 25, 2007
Danny

hey girl..well hope ya had a good weekend..i spent all day saturday at the fire training center helping train some new ff..it was a good day just long specially on friday had a garage fire and so now sleep all day and then a long day on sat..then had to go out n tie one on..wow its amazing i don't know if its the age or what but geeze don't remember too much of went on lol..took one of the guys out to celebrate his new job in idaho..hope ya have a good week..

Oct 29, 2007
Maygin

I am super impressed that your fire chief of your dept. its always cool to see a woman in a position of power and knows what shes doing. Now dont get me wrong im not a feminist but it helps me refocus and have something to work for knowing that other people have been there.

Oct 29, 2007
Danny

Hey michele..how are ya..far as i know they are not back yet..last i heard they were running calls for the locals out of some station in s cali. and they seem to be enjoyen that..looks like they should be home sometime tomorrow eve..
here is the web site to richland fire there is some pics and a little journal..
http://www.ci.richland.wa.us/richland/fire/

Nov 6, 2007
Danny

Hi michele i hope ya have a safe trip to see family and your friends..have a great time visiting and enjoy the day of being thankful for the things we have...talk to ya when ya get back..

Nov 20, 2007
Captain Hays

Hi Michele, just wanted to say hi. Hope all is well for you department. Everything here in College Place, WA is going good. Have a safe and happy holidays

Nov 21, 2007
Danny

Yo girl you back yet or you still out site seeing..talk at ya later...

Nov 24, 2007
Jules

Hey Michelle,
I am just joining FFN and enjoyed reading your advice!
Jules

Nov 25, 2007
Jules

Thanks for the comment and I love it!
Be safe out there!
Jules

Nov 28, 2007
Captain Hays

All is great here. Just went off my week long shift it was nice and calm. My brother is on shift, so he'll get all the action calls!!! Take care and talk at you later.

Nov 28, 2007
Danny

Well glad ya made it back in one piece..and i bet it would of been nice to come back to the 70's instead of the 30's big difference..well take care and will talk at ya later..

Nov 28, 2007
Joe Brooks

Hey Michele!

Where is Helix?

Nov 28, 2007
Danny

Hey girl whats up..was the accident on 730 was that in your dist or was it further up the river. or if ya know the details inquiring minds like to know hehe..Hope ya had a great weekend

Dec 3, 2007
Allen Wahlstrom

great reply on the womens thread...almost exactly what I was thinking. Have worked with many and all of your comments apply to different ones.
Oh and congrats on Chief of Deprartment.
Stay Safe
Allen

Dec 11, 2007
Delayne Webster

Hey Michele, Just droped in to say hello. An congrats on your chief pos. Be safe out there an happy holidays.

Dec 13, 2007
michael m madsen

HEJSA MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A ................
HAPPY NEW-YEAR>:)
Hilsen MICHAEL M MDSEN Firefighter:::::::)
djørn min Groups........michael m madsen's Groups. Delete Comment

Dec 14, 2007
Joel Swanson

Happy Holidays Michele.
Here's hoping for a Happy, Healthy & Safe Holiday Season!

Dec 15, 2007
Rich

Have a very safe holiday

Free Comments & Graphics

Dec 21, 2007
Danny

hello michele how are ya doing..whats ya been up too nothen much going on here..any ways take care and hope you all have a great and safe christmas...

Dec 21, 2007
M.A. Perkins E.M.T.(aka Tony)

welcome too firefighter nation be safe and be careful
wish you a wonderful christmas and a happy new year

Lt. Michael A. Perkins
Oakwood
Fire Department
&
Rescue Squad
Infectionist Control Officer
Unit#37
va.firefighter.37@hotmail.com

Dec 21, 2007
M.A. Perkins E.M.T.(aka Tony)

welcome too firefighter nation be safe and be careful
wish you a wonderful christmas and a happy new year

Lt. Michael A. Perkins
Oakwood
Fire Department
&
Rescue Squad
Infectionist Control Officer
Unit#37
va.firefighter.37@hotmail.com

Dec 21, 2007
Joel Swanson

Hi Michele,
Have A Super New Year & May Great Things Happen for You in 2008...

Dec 31, 2007
Danny

Michele michele how goes the battle down there..so did ya get much wind or did it blow over the top of ya..take care

Jan 5, 2008
Paul Johnson

Hey michelle,just courious how many alarms for 2007?....north county fire fire dist #3 hit a milestone for the first time we went over 5000 calls..
have a great day

Paul

Jan 11, 2008
Danny

michele how are ya doing..not too much going on just been worken..take care and have a great weekend..

Jan 18, 2008
Danny

Well hey...well ya know sounds like your haven fun selling and buying..and test driving toys hehe..but the wind yea it didnt even touch here..i was actually worken that day in walla walla and WOW what a day it was..watchen power poles lean trees falling and roofs blowing off..they were actually a little behind on there calls so we sent a strike team of a few engines and a couple medics over to help them out for half the day..but it was crazy over there it was like a war zone..glad your doing good..will catch ya later have a great weekend...

Jan 25, 2008
Paul Johnson

Thanks for your reply.No i dident go on all 5 thousand we have seven stations and we cover about 105 square miles,as for my station in Gold Hill we had alittle over three hundred calls last year and about 97% were medical.This year we had our first fire of the year,It was a greenhouse/pig pen,unforutionaly they lost two sows and twentyone piglets,it was a mess.Be safe and hope to hear from you someday.

Jan 26, 2008
Randy Hill

Were is Helix Oregon/ Is it close to Medford. I vaction out there almost every summer have to go to the coast. Have family in the Roseburg area. Do you belong to a busy department? Michele you be safe out there. Feel free to add me as a friend if you like. And Go Ducks!!!

Jan 26, 2008
Joshua T Hill

I Like the tunes. Where's Helix anyway? Just gaining some friends from my area. From what I can see, that looks a lot like the Portland Rock Gym. Hope you're doing well Michele. Stay safe.

Jan 30, 2008
Tim Reynolds

Hello from Pilot Rock!! Your not that far from the Rock. Well, hope your doing well. Stay safe!!

Feb 1, 2008
turk182

checking in with all my friends hope you are well and stay safe.

Feb 2, 2008
Tim Reynolds

Hey! Ya, I'll try to stay warm, you do the same!! I'll be sure to tell Stanton Hello for you Michele. Have a good one!! LOL

Feb 4, 2008
Joshua T Hill

Well, we've had a some minuscule snowfalls around Portland, but nothing stuck. I grew up in Colorado so I love the snow. I'll have to get up to the mountain soon. Hope all is well Michele.

Feb 4, 2008
Danny

Michele how are ya getting by over there..things are going pretty good here we got our new structure gear pretty fancy hehe..talk at ya later..

Feb 4, 2008
v. Bellissimo

Congratulations Chief! not many Female Chiefs in the Fire Service. I'm 1st asst Chief for the 2nd time in 20 years,I'll be Chief of Dept next year. I share your agonies and your joys. It's a difficult position, particularly for Volunteers, but we wouldn't trade it for anything, would we?

Feb 7, 2008
Ric Smith

Hi Michele, welcome.... So, you're from Orange eh?!? Where abouts? I'm from Anaheim myself. As far as a patch, I designed several patches to include our dept & union patch (both are in my photos). Let me know what you're look'n for & I'll be glad to help. Stay safe, Ric

Feb 8, 2008
Leola Hulet

Hello, Im new and Seen that your from Helix oregon. I used to be on the Athena and Weston( Now know as East Umatilla Co. Rural fire department) fire departments I was in Athena OR back in 1995 and Weston OR in 1996-1997. I still keep in touch with one of the older firefighters in Weston. Nice to see someone from that area on here. Add me as a friend if you like. Have a great day. Leola

Feb 10, 2008
Leola Hulet

Hello, Yep Don Jackson was the chief then. I keep in touch with Bill Boyd yet over the years Bill is a great guy. Great station, Loved working with them. I wish I could have stayed there longer, but had to move. Thanks for stopping by my page and leaving me a note. Take care. Leola

Feb 11, 2008
danny w furr

hello there Michele.like to be one of your friends here.pleae be safe out there.danny

Feb 11, 2008
Leola Hulet

I lived there about 2 years In Athena/Weston. I like Dillon, Im not on the department here as they have enough right now, but Im hoping to get on the forest service here as I also am a wildland firefighter also for them.

Feb 11, 2008
Justin Payne

just wanted to say hello

Feb 11, 2008
Lane Doby

Hi there! I hope you're having a great day!

Feb 11, 2008
dcltsc2

How are you. Stay Safe and Stay low GOD BLESS

Feb 12, 2008
Justin Payne

just popping in to say hi

Feb 12, 2008