Oracle Fire District’s new five-member board was sworn in Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at the fire station in Oracle prior to its first meeting. Bud Bristow was named the board’s first chairperson. 

The newly elected five-member Oracle Fire District Governing Board were sworn in and held their first meeting on Saturday Dec. 1 at the Oracle Fire House. Approximately 30 members of the public attended with the meeting lasting just over three hours.

The new Fire Board consists of Ellie Brown, Manny Navarro, and Charlotte Poole serving four year terms and Bud Bristow and John Doran serving two year terms.

The Board voted Bud Bristow as Board Chairman and Charlotte Poole as Board Clerk.

Former Fire Chief Albert Ortiz’s term expired at midnight Nov. 30.

The Board voted in Larry Southard as the interim Fire Chief. He will serve an indefinite term. Chief Southard has restructured the department’s Chain of Command to consist of Chief of Operations, Will Ramsay, Chief of Administration, Tina Acosta, and Battalion Chiefs Brian McGinnis and Robert Jennings.

“The Oracle Fire Department has been served by a two person board since Feb. 14, 1966 so this is a very historic event for us and we are very excited to work with the new Fire Board,” saidChief Southard.

The Board will continue to meet monthly on the first Mon. of the month at 6 p.m., baring holidays. The meetings are open to the public.

There will be a special meeting held on Monday Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit OracleFire.org.

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