Medford Fire Department provides fire protection, emergency medical services, and rescue operations to the City of Medford, Oregon, and Medford Rural Fire Protection District 2. Operating from multiple stations, the department also offers fire inspections, permits, and public safety education. Their mission is to serve, educate, and protect the community from fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and disasters.
Absolutely fantastic department to work at. No one leaves MFD to go work somewhere else. It’s definitely a destination department. Chief Thompson is a fireman’s Chief. He is consistently looking for ways to better the work environment for the guys. 4 person engine companies, 4-5 man dedicated truck company. Tractor drawn aerial on order. 3 EMS squads to help cover medical calls to keep engines available for fires or training. 48/96 schedule. Strong union with great working relationships with admin and HR. Absolutely great support from citizens and city council.
Medford Fire Department is truly a destination department for any firefighter looking to be part of something exceptional.
With 4 person engine companies, a dedicated 4-5 person truck company, 3 EMS squads. Medford Fire stands out as an organization that prioritizes safety, efficiency, and the highest level of service to the community. This is not just a fire department — it’s a team that embodies professionalism and pride in every response.
At the heart of this success is a fire chief with an incredible vision and a clear, strategic plan for the future. Under his leadership, Medford Fire has grown into a model of what a modern, progressive fire department should be. His commitment to training, staffing, and innovation shows in every aspect of the department’s operations.
Whether you’re considering starting your career or bringing your experience to a department that truly does things the right way, Medford Fire Department is a place you’ll be proud to call home.
A culture that values doing the right thing over rigid policy and procedure.
The fire chief and his administrative team have a clear vision that has been effectively communicated to all members.
We have an aggressive, people-first culture: searching ahead of hose lines, aggressive interior attacks, and strong truck work. Everyone works together to put the citizens first. Not only is this encouraged by our officers—it’s expected. “Get your ass in there and put the fire out.”
We have approximately 90 line personnel. Given that small number, it’s difficult for poor performers to hide. We maintain a high level of accountability from top to bottom.
The EMS squads have been a huge success, handling calls during the day so companies can stay available for other tasks or training.
As mentioned in other reviews, we have four-person staffing on engines and occasional five-person staffing on the truck, which is slated to be replaced with a TDA.
The oldest frontline apparatus is from 2017.
The Bad
We are a very busy department, and we’ve had only minimal increases in staffing since around 1975, despite the City of Medford growing by approximately 50% since that time. This doesn’t even account for the transient population, which—like any city on the West Coast—is substantial. While this section is titled “The Bad,” the reality is that it means you get to do the job a lot. And that includes fires.
We have some strange uniform policies. For example, the logo on our ball caps looks like it belongs to an over-55 women’s slow-pitch softball team. Our chief and admin staff are issued Carhartt hoodies, while line personnel received what can best be described as a lined trash bag.
Any Medford firefighter could write a full book about the private ambulance service we work with. I’ll leave it at this: most of the time, they’re OK to work with—but they can definitely be a challenge. There are skill issues and a general lack of experience. At times, it doesn’t feel like a cooperative relationship, which adds stress to the job.
Kelly days? We don’t have them—and probably never will. Even mentioning a Delta shift to this administration will visibly upset them. That said, I’ll concede that getting our current staffing model to the 48/96 schedule was a heavy lift and a lot of work. Honestly, I get paid enough—I just wish I had more time off.
We’re not a large department, and we’re relatively young overall. If you forecast things out, the opportunities for advancement aren’t great. That said, in my humble opinion, there is no better job in the world than being a backstep firefighter for the City of Medford.
Summary
All in all, this is a really great place to work. There’s a lot of laughter, a lot of professionalism, and a lot of truly good people—people I call friends, not just coworkers. Pound for pound, taking everything into account, I’d argue that Medford Fire Department is the best in the country. I stand by that.
If that’s the kind of energy you’re bringing, we’ll welcome you with open arms. But if you’re not here to be the best, please look elsewhere.
Rating Breakdown
5/5
5/5
5/5
4.3/5
3 Reviews on “Medford Fire Department”
Absolutely fantastic department to work at. No one leaves MFD to go work somewhere else. It’s definitely a destination department. Chief Thompson is a fireman’s Chief. He is consistently looking for ways to better the work environment for the guys. 4 person engine companies, 4-5 man dedicated truck company. Tractor drawn aerial on order. 3 EMS squads to help cover medical calls to keep engines available for fires or training. 48/96 schedule. Strong union with great working relationships with admin and HR. Absolutely great support from citizens and city council.
Medford Fire Department is truly a destination department for any firefighter looking to be part of something exceptional.
With 4 person engine companies, a dedicated 4-5 person truck company, 3 EMS squads. Medford Fire stands out as an organization that prioritizes safety, efficiency, and the highest level of service to the community. This is not just a fire department — it’s a team that embodies professionalism and pride in every response.
At the heart of this success is a fire chief with an incredible vision and a clear, strategic plan for the future. Under his leadership, Medford Fire has grown into a model of what a modern, progressive fire department should be. His commitment to training, staffing, and innovation shows in every aspect of the department’s operations.
Whether you’re considering starting your career or bringing your experience to a department that truly does things the right way, Medford Fire Department is a place you’ll be proud to call home.
The Good:
48/96 schedule.
Top-of-the-line equipment and gear.
A very competitive compensation package.
A culture that values doing the right thing over rigid policy and procedure.
The fire chief and his administrative team have a clear vision that has been effectively communicated to all members.
We have an aggressive, people-first culture: searching ahead of hose lines, aggressive interior attacks, and strong truck work. Everyone works together to put the citizens first. Not only is this encouraged by our officers—it’s expected. “Get your ass in there and put the fire out.”
We have approximately 90 line personnel. Given that small number, it’s difficult for poor performers to hide. We maintain a high level of accountability from top to bottom.
The EMS squads have been a huge success, handling calls during the day so companies can stay available for other tasks or training.
As mentioned in other reviews, we have four-person staffing on engines and occasional five-person staffing on the truck, which is slated to be replaced with a TDA.
The oldest frontline apparatus is from 2017.
The Bad
We are a very busy department, and we’ve had only minimal increases in staffing since around 1975, despite the City of Medford growing by approximately 50% since that time. This doesn’t even account for the transient population, which—like any city on the West Coast—is substantial. While this section is titled “The Bad,” the reality is that it means you get to do the job a lot. And that includes fires.
We have some strange uniform policies. For example, the logo on our ball caps looks like it belongs to an over-55 women’s slow-pitch softball team. Our chief and admin staff are issued Carhartt hoodies, while line personnel received what can best be described as a lined trash bag.
Any Medford firefighter could write a full book about the private ambulance service we work with. I’ll leave it at this: most of the time, they’re OK to work with—but they can definitely be a challenge. There are skill issues and a general lack of experience. At times, it doesn’t feel like a cooperative relationship, which adds stress to the job.
Kelly days? We don’t have them—and probably never will. Even mentioning a Delta shift to this administration will visibly upset them. That said, I’ll concede that getting our current staffing model to the 48/96 schedule was a heavy lift and a lot of work. Honestly, I get paid enough—I just wish I had more time off.
We’re not a large department, and we’re relatively young overall. If you forecast things out, the opportunities for advancement aren’t great. That said, in my humble opinion, there is no better job in the world than being a backstep firefighter for the City of Medford.
Summary
All in all, this is a really great place to work. There’s a lot of laughter, a lot of professionalism, and a lot of truly good people—people I call friends, not just coworkers. Pound for pound, taking everything into account, I’d argue that Medford Fire Department is the best in the country. I stand by that.
If that’s the kind of energy you’re bringing, we’ll welcome you with open arms. But if you’re not here to be the best, please look elsewhere.