New fire chief to take reins in Sisters

Sisters' incoming Fire Chief Roger Johnson wasn't looking for a new job.

Johnson has a 27-year history at Douglas County Fire District #2 in Roseberg, where he's a battalion chief. He started there when he was 19 years old. It took a rare opportunity to pull him away from the department where he'd spent his whole career.

"I wasn't actively searching for a career change at all," he explained. "In fact, this is the only position I've tested for other than my parent agency."

Opportunity came with the retirement of Sisters Fire Chief Tay Robertson, whom Johnson has known and respected for years. Recognizing what he considers "a perfect fit," Johnson threw his fire helmet in the ring and was selected from among a large pool of qualified candidates.

He has a broad range of experience in a large and busy rural fire district - experience that he says, "just mirrors the Sisters fire district perfectly.

"It's a well-run organization, very professionally managed and the personnel are excellent at what they do," Johnson said of the Sisters-Camp Sherman fire district.

Sisters has relied heavily on volunteers, and Chief Robertson put a lot of emphasis on creating strong bonds among volunteer and professional staff. Sisters also has a thriving firefighter/medic education program.

Johnson has extensive experience in working with both volunteers and college interns.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District Board Vice President Al Mackenzie reported that there were 67 applicants for the position, coming from across the nation. A committee narrowed down the applicants to five final candidates and "basically, Roger stood out extremely well from the five (finalists)."

Mackenzie said that the board was impressed with "his background and his financial knowledge (regarding) budgets, his working with the local communities in Douglas County ... He was everything the board was looking for. He was an excellent candidate."

While the qualities of the fire district were paramount in the decision to come to Sisters, Johnson said there were other important factors. He and wife Susan have long loved Central Oregon. They honeymooned in the area and have celebrated anniversaries in Sisters.

"We both just love the community to death," he said.

The Johnsons have a daughter in college and another daughter, Makenzie, who will be a sophomore in high school.

"The school system was a pretty big component for us, too," Johnson said. "We did a lot of research. We're just very impressed with the school district."

Johnson will officially take the reins at Sisters-Camp Sherman fire district on June 18. He says his first priority will be to learn more about the organization and the priorities and concerns of the Sisters community.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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