Fire service leaders meet in Sisters

The United States' top fire officials met in Sisters last Thursday and Friday for the Western Fire Chiefs Presidents Forum.

More than 60 attendees packed the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Community Hall for two days of meetings and training. United States Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell attended the meetings and enjoyed three days in Sisters Country. Other attendees included the president and executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Fire chiefs and executives representing the 10 western states also participated in the event.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Chief Roger Johnson said, "It was an incredible honor to host a group of national fire service leaders of this magnitude."

The community room attached to the fire station was a selling point in attracting the group to Sisters. Attendees were also impressed with the community, and businesses that provided lodging, meals, and entertainment.

Johnson said, "We are reaching out to our fire service associations and partners to let them know about the benefits of hosting meetings and events in Sisters."

The fire district has hosted three such meetings in the past two months.

In addition to the economic benefits of bringing groups to Sisters Country, there is a real benefit for local emergency responders. Many of the events include exceptional training taught by national experts. Local firefighters were able to attend classes for free when their schedules allowed. Classes offered included: Healthcare reform and corresponding changes to ambulance services, how to use new applications for emergency services, and the changing chemical composition of smoke from residential fires.