A Shift
Captain Erin Elder
Captain Erin Elder grew up in Shady Cove, OR. She began her fire career as a Junior Firefighter with Jackson County Fire District 4 in 1986, while attending Eagle Point High School.
She pursued her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pacific University, which she completed in 1994. Elder began EMT and paramedic training through Rogue Community College, completing it in 1997.
After several years of volunteering here, in 2007 she was hired full time as a captain/paramedic. Elder is also an instructor, teaching: CPR, ACLS, and PALS courses.
She has always been athletic, participating in team sports such as volleyball and basketball. She enjoys the team atmosphere that fire and EMS work provides. Elder loves that she can live and work in her community and serve citizens that she considers friends and family.
FF Taylor Wold
Firefighter Taylor Wold began serving Fire District 4 in December of 2015. His Fire Service and EMS involvement began as a student firefighter at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon in 2012. After completing his AAS in fire suppression, Taylor moved back to his hometown of Medford, OR where he became a student firefighter with Jackson County Fire District 3. Taylor served Fire District 3 as a volunteer until mid-2016.
In 2014 Taylor began working for Mercy Flights Ambulance as an EMT, gaining knowledge and experience to continue in the pursuit of becoming a Paramedic. Taylor earned his Paramedic degree through RCC in 2017. Taylor continues to serve as a Paramedic with Mercy Flights in a part-time capacity.
Taylor currently resides in Medford, OR with his wife and 2 children. Taylor enjoys spending time with his family and friends and enjoys being outdoors while doing things such as fishing, hiking, hunting, wakeboarding, rafting and many other activities that our region has to offer.
FF Jake wright
Firefighter Jake Wright was hired on August 2nd, 2021, as a Firefighter-EMT. He was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon. He began fire service after graduating from Grants Pass High School in the spring of 2017. He served as a student intern with Fire District 3 from 2018 to 2019 while being involved in RCC’s Fire Science Program and pursuing his EMT License. He spent the summers of 2018-19 with ODF. His first season, on a Type 3 IA Engine and second season as an Engine Boss on a Type 6 Engine. In the fall of 2019, he was hired as a recruit with Rural Metro Fire in Josephine County. While there, he worked on-call as an ER Technician in the Asante Three Rivers Hospital Emergency Room.
He currently lives in Grants Pass and spends his free time with his wife Bre, and their golden retriever. They enjoy mountain biking, hunting, and being involved with their church, River Valley.
B Shift
Captain Nick Fitzpatrick
Captain Nick Fitzpatrick was hired by Fire District 4 in February 2016 after working for both Klamath County Fire District 1 and AMR Josephine County as a Paramedic. He was also a student volunteer at Jackson County Fire District 5 as an EMT.
Nick has lived in the Rogue Valley since he was 5 years old and enjoys many of the things the Rogue Valley has to offer such as skiing, hiking, hunting, fishing, rafting, and boating. Nick also enjoys exploring the Rogue Valley with his wife Sarah, their daughters and two dogs
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Nick’s extensive whitewater background has served him well for water rescues and operating the fire district's water rescue equipment and he currently runs the Fire Districts water rescue program.
Nick was promoted to Fire Captain in January of 2020.
FF Jake Gallagher
Firefighter Jake Gallagher was hired on as a Student Firefighter in February of 2019. He attended Rogue Community College Pursuing a degree in Fire Science. He also attended Umpqua Community College and became a licensed EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). On March 2, 2020 Jake was hired at Fire District 4 as a full-time Firefighter.
Jake was born in Weiser, ID and lived there before moving to Prospect, OR. His family eventually moved to Camas Valley where he attended high school. In high school Jake played football serving as a team captain for three of his four years. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time with family and friends.
C Shift
Captain Eli Buma
Captain Eli Buma accepted the position of firefighter at JCFD4 after serving as a student firefighter at Fire District 3 in White City. He started his career in firefighting June of 2014 at the Oregon Department of Forestry as a member of a severity crew. In September of 2014 Eli started as a Student Firefighter at Fire District 3, and the Fire Science program at Rogue Community College. Just Prior to finishing his degree, Eli was hired as a firefighter at Fire District 4.
Eli resides in Central Point, OR. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife Megan and their daughter, and fishing on the Rogue River, and hunting.
Eli was promoted to Captain in 2019
FF Austin Owens
Firefighter Austin Owens was hired as a fulltime firefighter in November of 2019. Austin previously volunteered here at JCFD#4 for 6 years, while being a resident for 3 years. He received his fire science degree and EMT-I from Rogue Community College. Austin came to us from Rogue Regional Medical Center where he was an Emergency Services Technician for 7 years. Austin completed his Paramedic at College of the Siskiyou’s in Weed.
Austin was born in Chico California and moved to Oregon when he was young. Austin lived in Butte Falls for 10+ years before he and his family moved to Eagle Point. Austin and his wife Claire, with their two children, enjoy being outdoors while appreciating what our valley has to offer.
