Fire Chief Dan Petersen
Dan began his fire service career in 1979 as a Volunteer Firefighter in Josephine County while attending College. In 1980, he was selected as a full-time career Firefighter with Valley Fire Service (now known as Rural Metro). Dan worked for Medford Fire-Rescue from 1988 through 2010. Dan served as a Shift Battalion Chief, Training Chief, and Deputy Chief of Administration during his career at Medford Fire Department. On October 11, 2010 he became the Fire Chief for Jackson County Fire District 3.
Dan serves as a Fire Defense Board Chief for Jackson and Josephine Counties; the Vice Chair of the Southern Oregon Red Cross Board of Directors; a member of Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Fire Policy Committee; and as the Deputy Incident Commander on the Office of State Fire Marshal's “RED” Incident Management Team. Dan is also active with the Central Point Rotary club and the Upper Rogue Chamber of Commerce.
Dan has held executive offices for the Oregon Fire Instructors Association, Rogue Valley Fire Chiefs Association, and the Rogue Interagency Training Association. Dan holds the honor of life membership with both the Oregon Fire Instructors Association and the Rogue Fire Training Association.
Dan holds a Masters in Management from Southern Oregon State University, a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Western Oregon State University, and an Associate of Science in Fire Science from Rogue Community College. Dan is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and is an accredited Fire Officer 4.
Dan is originally from the Chicagoland area but has called Southern Oregon home since 1979. He and his wife Jenni have been married since 1984 and have two kids who are beginning to strike out on their own.