Grants Pass Fire Rescue

Randy DeLonge
Deputy Chief Grants Pass Fire Rescue

Randy began his career in 1994 working with a contract wildland agency.  During the same year, he was hired by the United States Forest Service, where he spent the next three summers working on Winema Interagency Hotshot Crew.  Randy started with the City of Grants Pass as a Student Firefighter in February of 1997. Later in October of that same year, he was hired as a firefighter by the City. During his time with the City, he has held several positions and been on most of our teams.  

Randy completed an Associates Degree in Fire Science from Rogue Community College.  He is also an Oregon State Licensed Paramedic.  He continues to seek out classes that challenge him and or provide an area of training that most in our department do not have.  In addition, he is currently the Chair of the EMS advising Committee to the BCC. 

Mission

The mission of Grants Pass Fire Rescue is to prevent the loss of life and damage to property from fire, accidents, medical emergencies, and natural disasters through a comprehensive program of public education, awareness, enforcement, and emergency response.

Prevention Services & Public Education

The Fire Marshal oversees the activities of the Fire Prevention Division. The Fire Marshal is responsible for reviewing building plans and for enforcement of the state and city codes.

A Crime Prevention Officer, who is a sworn police officer, provides crime prevention and public education. This position is a 3 to 5-year assignment, which allows other police officers to have an opportunity to enhance their careers and to work more closely with business and community groups. The Crime Prevention Officer works to resolve livability issues, handle neighborhood disputes, and develop a close relationship with our city's merchants. The Crime Prevention Officer also oversees the Public Safety Auxiliary Program.

A Fire Inspector functions as a fire inspector, fire and arson investigator, and coordinates the Engine Company Inspection Program. In addition, the Fire Inspector conducts life safety classes for business and community groups.

Response

When things do go wrong, we are ready to respond quickly 24/7 year-round from three public safety centers strategically located within our community. Each station is staffed using a rotating "3 platoon" system ensuring a minimum staffing of 2 firefighters and 1 student firefighter at each station for each 48-hour period. One Battalion Chief supervises these personnel. The total minimum staffing for any given shift is 7 full-time firefighters and 3 student firefighters.

Grants Pass Fire Rescue is staffed by 27 full-time employees (including supervisors, fire officers, firefighters, and fire prevention employees) who are all hard-working, engaged, and dedicated professionals who take a great deal of pride in serving our community. As a hallmark, we hold a commitment to providing excellence and place the highest priority on customer service.

Services

Grants Pass Fire Rescue provides structural and wildland fire suppression, advanced emergency medical care, technical rescue, and fire and life safety prevention services.

Cost Efficient

With an ever-increasing demand for a wide variety of emergency services combined with the current economic conditions, fire departments are under increasing pressure to provide expanded quality services using the same resources.  Grants Pass Fire Rescue prides itself in finding innovative ways to meet this challenge through mutual and automatic aid agreements with neighboring agencies, the student firefighter program, applying for and receiving federal grants for staffing and fire equipment, and reducing expenses by sharing facilities and administrative services between our police and fire divisions.