Klamath County Fire District No. 1

John Spradley
Division Chief – Operations

Welcome to the Operations Division of Klamath County Fire District No.1. I started my employment with Klamath County Fire District No. 1 in 1988 looking for a career with a professional organization that offered opportunity, challenge and valued it's employees as a resource to assist the organization in meeting the service demands of its patrons. In my position as Operations Chief I see Klamath County Fire District No.1 as a successful organization that is continually looking to improve, focused on delivering critical services to the community with dedicated, knowledgeable and professional employees.

Employed with Klamath County Fire District No.1 since 1988
Associates of Fire Science Chemeketa Community College
Graduate of the Basic and Advanced Fire Administrator's Institute courses
Promoted to Division Chief - Operations, 2003

View the Organizational Chart for Fire District No. 1

Responsibilities of the Position

The Operations Division provides 24 hour emergency response to Fire, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and Emergency Medical incidents and also provides Advanced Life Support Interfacility Transportation, and dedicated Ambulance Standbys from four active Stations. The Operations Division Chief provides administrative support to the three shifts of 19 personnel that make up the operations division. Operations personnel respond to Fire / Rescue incidents within the 210 square mile jurisdictional boundaries of Klamath County Fire District No.1 , to Medical incidents within the 300 square mile jurisdictional boundaries of Klamath County’s Ambulance Service Areas #5, and to all of Klamath and Lake Counties for Hazardous Materials Response.

Fire Incidents: Operations personnel respond to all types of fire incidents including Structure Fires, Vehicle Fires, and Wildland Fires.

Rescue Incidents: Operations personnel respond with a variety of tools and apparatus to all types of rescue incidents including MVA, water, entrapment, confined space rescue etc.

Emergency Medical Incidents: Operations personnel provide rapid Advanced Life Support (ALS) response to medical incidents within Klamath County’s Ambulance Service Areas. Sky Lakes Medical Center (formerly MWMC) is located in this area so we provide all ambulance interfacility transfers as well.

Hazardous Materials Response: Operations personnel of Klamath County Fire District No.1 in a partnership with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office provide Hazardous Materials Response to both Klamath and Lake Counties as one of the 14 Regional Hazardous Materials Response Teams in the State of Oregon.

Battalion Chiefs

Under the direction and supervision of the Division Chief - Operations for the proper operation of their assigned shift. Their responsibilities include response to alarms as incident commander, supervision of the Company Officers assigned to their shift, assignment of their personnel to properly man the stations and apparatus, complete their staff assignments in a timely manner and assure the District safety standards are met during all shift operations.

Dan Riblett- A Shift Battalion Chief

I started my fire service career as a volunteer firefighter in Lakeview, Oregon in 1972. While attending Oregon State University, I worked as a seasonal firefighter for the US Forest Service until moving to Klamath Falls in 1982. I became a volunteer firefighter for Klamath County Fire District No. 1 in 1983. I was hired as a firefighter in September, 1984, promoted to Captain August 1999, and to Battalion Chief in May 2002.

I am an active member of the Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team and attended the First Technician training held at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue in 1991.

Some of my responsibilities include uniform purchase, protective clothing purchase, and ladder maintenance and testing. Committee assignments include Safety Committee, Clothing Committee, Wildland Committee, and EMS Committee.

I have been active with the Klamath/Lake County Fire Training Association and served as President of that organization for 8 years. I am the current State District Liaison Officer for the Department of Safety Standards and Training.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oregon State University and an Associate of Science degree from Rogue Community College.

Neil Valiton - B-Shift Battalion Chief

As the B- Shift Battalion Chief I bring 25 years of experience to Klamath County Fire District No. 1. I started as a volunteer with the Klamath Falls Fire Department in 1981. By September of 1983 I was hired as a full-time Fire Fighter by the Klamath Falls Fire Department. In 1991 I was promoted to Captain. In 1992 I joined Klamath County Fire District No. 1 as part of the merger, and early in 99’ I became Battalion Chief.

As the Battalion Chief I have completed both the basic and advanced Fire Service Administrators Institute and attended resident courses at the National Fire Academy, which include; Instructional Methodology, NFIRS Program Management, Fire Service Communications and Organizational Theory in Practice.

I am currently a chairman on the Safety Committee, Coordinator of the Information Systems and coordinate the purchases of all fire hose and test records.

Tom Morehouse - C-Shift Battalion Chief

I started my Fire Service Career in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force. After being honorably discharged with the USAF I was hired by Kingsley Field Airport Fire Department. In 1982 I was hired by Klamath County Fire District No. 1 as a firefighter. During my career at KCFD No. 1 I have moved through the ranks as Lieutenant, Captain and now in my current position as C-Shift Battalion Chief. I am a graduate of Rogue Community College where I earned my Associates of Fire Science and also graduated from the Oregon Fire Administrator’s Institute.

Some of my responsibilities include maintenance of all vehicles, radios, pagers & SCBA’s and tracking of vacation and sick leave for all shift personnel.