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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses ... The writing's on the wall ... Oregon Republicans bruised by 'partisan' legislative session ... Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses ... The writing's on the wall ... Oregon Republicans bruised by 'partisan' legislative session ... FIRE PROTECTION Three vie for Fire District No. 5 chief's job Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News TALENT – Three candidates, including one in-house firefighter, have been named finalists for the chief’s position with Jackson County Fire District No. 5. Finalists are Lyle Armstrong, fire chief, City of Rock Springs, Wyo.; Thomas Phelps, fire battalion chief, City of Alhambra, Calif.; and Darin Welburn, division chief, Fire District No. 5. Finalists will be interviewed in executive session on Dec. 2. by the five-member board of directors. Chief Dan Marshall will retire at the end of the year following 30 years of service. Armstrong began his firefighting career with Rock Springs 25 years ago. He has been chief for six-and-a-half years and was a battalion chief the preceding 14 years. He supervises 33 first-line personnel at three stations in the town of 25,000. Rock Spring’s fire department also serves as the state’s hazardous material team in a 25,000-square-mile area. The city is located on Interstate 80, and a major east-west rail line runs through the town. Armstrong is the town’s emergency management coordinator. Armstrong has an associate degree in fire science from Casper College in Wyoming and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program. He was president of the Wyoming Fire Chiefs Association for two years and served on that group’s legislative committee. He also chaired the state’s Fire Safety Certification Committee. He was secretary/treasurer for the firefighter’s union. Phelps has been with the Alhambra Fire Department since 1980, starting as a firefighter. He has been a battalion chief for seven years. He oversees maintenance and purchasing after supervising training, duties that are rotated among battalion chiefs. As a battalion chief, he supervises five captains and four stations and 19 suppression personnel during 24-hour shifts. While a captain, he worked in hazardous materials and fire-prevention divisions. He was president of the Alhambra Firefighters Association for five years and held other positions in the union. Phelps has an associate in fire science degree from Pasadena City College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of La Verne. He attended the Rio Hondo Community College fire academy program. Phelps has a daughter who attends Southern Oregon University. Welburn began as a volunteer with Fire District No. 5 in 1985 and was hired full-time in 1987. While with the district, he volunteered with the Phoenix Fire Department and was chief from 1991-96. He also served on union negotiating teams. In 1996, Welburn was named division chief. In that role, he is in charge of fire ground operations and oversees operational aspects of the three-station district. He coordinates the volunteer program and manages training for both volunteers and career firefighters. He has been secretary, treasure, vice president and president of the Rogue Valley Fire Chiefs Association. The candidate has a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from Western Oregon University and a bachelor’s in education from SOU. Welburn has been president of the Phoenix-Talent Education Foundation for seven years. He has three daughters who graduated from Phoenix High School. There were 16 applicants for the position, but seven did not meet qualifications when applications were screened by Marshall and union President Arron Bustard. A committee then selected the top seven. A five-member search committee then reduced that number to the finalists presented to the board. A starting salary range of $95,000 to $107,000 has been set for the post. Board members voted Tuesday to pay airfare and the area federal per diem rate for candidates who come to interviews from outside the area. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected] By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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