McKenzie named to fire district board

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District has announced the appointment of Al McKenzie to the fire district board of directors.

McKenzie was previously a fire district board member from 1984 through 2004. He has seen the district grow from a small rural fire district that contracted with the city for fire protection to what it has become today.

McKenzie remembered that in 1981 there were no paid career positions at the fire department. The fire chief was also a volunteer position. He was a board member when the first fire hall was built on Elm Street- because Sisters City Hall ran out of room to house the fire department.

McKenzie has lived in the Sisters area since 1977, with his wife Elaine, and has two grown daughters. He owned his own business from 1981 through 1986 in Sisters, as well as being a reserve officer for the City of Sisters Police Department. In 1986, McKenzie started working for the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

In 2004, he retired from both the sheriff's office and the fire district board and concentrated on his hobbies: fishing, hunting and spending time with his four grandchildren.

When he retired from the board in 2004, McKenzie said, "It was time for some new blood on the board."

When it was announced that there was a position available on the board, he thought about it and decided he wanted to be involved again. He says he is looking forward to again helping the district grow.