Monte Keady
   Division Chief – Training

Division Chief Monte Keady started in the Fire service in 1984 at the age of 18. He started as a volunteer at Klamath County Fire District No. 4, a small Fire District in the Stewart-Lenox suburbs of Klamath Falls. He attended Chemeketa Community College in Salem Oregon during the school year, and in the Summer he worked for Oregon Department of Forestry fighting wildland fires. He graduated in 1988 with an AS Degree in Fire Suppression, and was hired at Klamath County Fire District No. 1 in May of 1989. He continued as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT within the Klamath Basin and through continuing hard work and dedication he reached the ranks of Training Officer as a Volunteer. In 2001 he left the volunteer ranks of Fire District 4. Through study and dedication he began to move up through the ranks from Firefighter to Captain to his current position of Division Chief Training/EMS. Now as a Chief Officer with Fire District No. 1, he is trying to return the debt of time invested in him by great mentors by means of returning to Fire District 4 as a volunteer firefighter.

Other activities Chief Keady has been involved in throughout the years include ten years as a part-time Health Instructor at Oregon Institute of Technology, various leadership roles within the Klamath/Lake Fire Training Association, the Health and Safety Director for the local Red Cross Chapter. He is currently a member of the Klamath County Anti-Terrorism Task Force, a board member of the Region 7 Hospital Preparedness Program, and one of the Team Leaders for the Regional Hazardous Materials Team HM 4. Chief Keady is also a Rotarian and as a part of his Rotary contacts, sent surplus fire equipment to Placencia, Belize. Then he traveled to Belize and taught the new firefighters there how to use this equipment.

Monte said, "I enjoy investing in people by mentoring them and watching them blossom in their careers. When Firefighters or Officers need training beyond that which is offered as part of our regular training program, I feel honored to assist them in alternatives that will aid in their success. I count it as a true blessing when I can see a person flourish when they use knowledge that I have provided them with."

View the Organizational Chart for Fire District No. 1

Responsibilities of the Position

The Training/EMS Chief's responsibilities at Fire District No. 1 are to plan, develop and occasionally deliver the fire and EMS related training. This is a task that is made increasingly difficult when faced with the challenges of new laws and increasing educational requirements of emergency responders, and diminishing budgets. Chief Keady works to ensure the crews respond quickly, safely and professionally, whether the crews are working from a fire apparatus or in the back of a transporting ambulance.

Chief Keady acts as the liaison, or point of contact between the Fire District No. 1 personnel and the Supervising Physician, as well as Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls' only hospital. From time to time, the local colleges ask him to place intern paramedic students at the stations where District No. 1 Paramedics provide mentoring skills and the responding ambulance provides an educational platform for them to learn the EMS craft.

As the lead fire training officer for the largest fire district within 70 miles in rural Southern Oregon, Chief Keady will sometimes end up training more than fire service personnel. There are many requirements placed on governmental first response agencies post September 11, 2001, Chief Keady is also a part of the newly forming Incident Management Team and made up of representatives of many multi-disciplinary multi-agency members. Chief Keady works with the County Health Department, Hospital, the Railroads, National Parks, Law Enforcement and Land Management agencies and the Kingsley Field Air Guard, City and County Schools, Klamath Falls International Airport as well as private industry in exercise design and implementing the Incident Command System (ICS). This work has fostered a working relationship that allows Klamath County agencies to work together during joint emergency responses.

As a part of the Management Team at Fire District No. 1, Chief Keady assists in policy and guideline development, negotiations and the budget. Therefore, this position requires constant communication with the line crews. He must understand their needs and try to communicate to them their roles regarding the mission and direction of the Fire District.