Fire Chief Wayne Painter leads the Jacksonville Fire Department in Jacksonville, Oregon, bringing over 30 years of experience in fire service. His career began at age 16, and he spent more than three decades with the Medford Fire Department, retiring as a Captain. Painter holds degrees in fire suppression and prevention from Chemeketa Community College and is a member of Northwest Team Seven, a federal emergency management team. Since becoming Jacksonville’s Fire Chief, he has been instrumental in modernizing the department, notably overseeing the development of the new Station 19, a state-of-the-art, earthquake-resistant facility that also serves as the city’s Emergency Operations Center. In recognition of his leadership and contributions, Painter received the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association Award of Excellence in 2024.