VIDEO: Bend Fire & Rescue announced Thursday that Melissa Steele has been named deputy fire marshal of wildfire preparedness, a new position dedicated to increasing community preparedness and resilience in the face of wildfire. Steele has been in the fire service for 24 years, first as a wildland firefighter and emergency medical technician with the United States Forest Service and then with CalFire in Paradise, California. She was hired as a fire inspector with Bend Fire in 2022.
Steele stood out as an ideal candidate because of her expertise in wildfire prevention, stemming from her experience in the field and vast professional development over the years. โWe have been so impressed by all Melissa has accomplished in her time with Bend Fire. Her passion for this work and the respect she has earned across Central Oregon will help her be successful in this role,โ said Deputy Chief of Prevention Jason Bolen.
