Rural Metro Fire Department

Rural Metro Fire (Josephine County) provides fire protection and emergency medical response across roughly 326 square miles of unincorporated Josephine County, Oregon, outside the Grants Pass city limits. Unlike most fire agencies, it operates on a membership subscription model rather than tax funding, summed up by its motto "Powered by membership, not taxes."

Founded in July 1979, the department grew from a county need for organized fire protection after a proposed government district stalled. More than four decades later it responds to nearly 3,000 calls a year, with roughly half being medical emergencies handled by firefighters who are also licensed EMTs.

The department fields over 70 trained firefighters and EMTs operating out of seven stations (four staffed, three satellite), delivering structure, vehicle, and wildland fire response as well as technical rescue, vehicle-crash rescue, basic life support, and community education programs.

Note: In late 2024 Josephine County moved to establish a public fire protection district (later renamed Mid Rogue Fire District), reflecting an ongoing transition in how the area's fire service is organized.

The department's public website focuses on membership and community services and does not publish a dedicated careers or recruitment page, current openings, requirements, or pay information. Firefighters here are licensed EMTs, so EMS certification is central to the role.

Prospective applicants should contact the department directly at 541.474.1218 to ask about current openings and the application process.