The Hoodland Fire District has a new member: John Ingrao will become the district’s new deputy chief, starting Jan. 2, 2012.

“This is a very nice place to live and a well run department,” said Ingrao, a Mountain resident since 1994. “I was very fortunate that I got it.” The district received more than 125 requests for applications for the position, according to Fire Chief Mic Eby, while approximately 11 candidates submitted
an application. A committee reviewed the applications and selected five
semifinalists, who were presented to a panel of area fire chiefs. The panel
gave Eby the top three candidates, and Eby selected Ingrao as the
recommended finalist.

The district’s board of directors unanimously approved Ingrao for the position.
Duties for the deputy chief will include emergency and day-to-day operations,
equipment purchase, training and maintaining various certifications for district
personnel and serving as the acting chief in Eby’s absence. Eby
has performed these duties since becoming chief in 2005.

Eby noted that Ingrao brings a great deal of experience to the district,
including response work during Hurricane Katrina and large scale fires. Ingrao
will also be able to train staff in the National Incident Management System,
classes district members previously have had to travel for.

“He’ll be a very good part of the district,” Eby said. “The guy has been around
and done a lot on all levels.”

“I just feel very fortunate that we were able to hire a person of his caliber and
his background and to help grow our fire district,” added district board
member Bob Reeves. “He was by far, in my estimation, the leading candidate
for the position.”

Ingrao, 57, worked for the Clackamas Fire District for the past 21 years,
ascending to the position of battalion chief. An Army veteran, he has been a
paramedic since 1976 and also worked as a firefighter in California.
“John has always been recognized as one of our strongest incident
commanders,” said Clackamas Fire District Chief Ed Kirchhofer, who
characterized him as a “strong leader.” “I’m sure those skills will translate
exceedingly well to Hoodland Fire District and he will be an integral part of
making that organization much stronger than it already is today.”

Ingrao, who has three children (including two graduates of the Welches
schools and Sandy High School), has also spent the last two years as a
volunteer in the district.

“We just love it up here, love the community, the smallness but the close knit
part,” he said. “We’re very happy”.

Ingrao, who hikes, fishes, snowshoes, rides ATVs and serves as a “ranch
hand”for his wife (a horse enthusiast), looks forward to getting more
acquainted with local business owners as well as the community.