Chief Mouser retiring

Sisters Fire Chief Don Mouser is retiring after 33 years of service.

Acting fire chief Don Rowe will take the post as chief of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. Rowe, who retired after a career with the U.S. Forest Service, previously served as the district's fire prevention officer.

According to Greg Brown, chairman of the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD board of directors, Mouser's retirement will become official at the end of December. Mouser has been on leave since last summer.

"In Don's 33 years of service, he saw the department grow from all volunteers...

(to) a paid staff of four

full-time fire medics, a

district clerk... (and) about 30 volunteers," Brown said.

The department also grew in coverage, especially after Mouser went from volunteer chief to being a paid chief

in 1976.

Sisters got its first ambulance in the mid-1970s. Until 1984, areas outside the City of Sisters contracted with the city fire department for service. In that year, one large Sisters Rural Fire Protection District was formed. Two years later, in 1986, the district incorporated Camp Sherman.

Now, Brown noted, there are three stations in the district - the main Sisters firehall, a Tollgate station and one in Camp Sherman. A new station is under construction in Squaw Creek Canyon Estates.

A retirement party for Chief Mouser is set for Friday, December 11, at Sisters High School, starting at 5:30 p.m.

There will be a charge of $10, payable at the door. Those who plan to attend must RSVP no later than Wednesday, December 2. Call 549-0771.