Keizer Fire District,

I am honored to be writing to you for the first time as your Fire Chief. I am excited about my new role, the future of Keizer Fire District, and the opportunities to come. I began with three basic principles that I believe are the keys to our success.

  • Be Mission Ready – Be prepared at all times, mentally and physically to respond to the needs of the community, no matter what the need may be.
  • Take Care of Each Other – The career of service to the public can take a toll. Firefighters are called when an individual is having what could quite possibly be the worst day of their life and has run out of options. Being there for each other and taking care of each other is critical in assuring we are all resilient, prepared for a long career, and always prepared to respond to the needs of the community.
  • Be Nice – This one is simple and is also the most important! Be nice in your interactions with co-workers and above all else, be nice to the citizens we serve.

I have had the privilege to work with some of the finest public safety personnel in my
career here at Keizer Fire. It is my honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to
support the success of our personnel and our organization as we work on the challenges of
the future. Growth is happening and we are working to ensure we are prepared to grow with
our community. We have seen a 73% increase in call volume over the last 10 years. It is
essential that we work to continue to provide the quick and efficient response with the kind
and professional service you have come to expect from your Keizer firefighters.

Keizer Fire is committed to retaining high-quality long-term employees who
understand and add value to the community and the Keizer Fire culture. Keizer Fire strives
to continue to respond to your emergency with preparation and skills that are second to none.

Our three guiding principles are and will continue to be what you should expect in all of your interactions with your Keizer firefighters. They will be mission ready, they will take care of each other, and above all else, they will be nice.

Thank you for your continued support of your Fire District. If there is ever anything you need, we are always here for you.

Respectfully,

Ryan Russell

Keizer Fire Chief