With the Hoodland Fire District’s search for a Deputy Fire Chief delayed due to
Fire Chief John Ingrao being on administrative leave and under investigation,
Interim Fire Chief Steven Abel appointed Scott Kline to the position on an
interim basis.

Abel noted the position is just on a temporary basis of up to six months and
that at some point, the district will complete the hiring process.

“The Fire Chief needs to be able to do that,” Abel said about the hiring
process, noting it was important to move forward with getting somebody in as
the Interim Deputy Chief to help focus on the operational aspects of the
district.

The search for a Deputy Chief began in earnest last May, when voters passed
a bond to fund the position. The search officially opened last November only
to restart in February after not enough applicants came forward.
Ingrao had indicated he would retire at some point after the new Deputy Chief
was onboard.

The district is also in the middle of its budget process, moving forward with
strategic planning while also anticipating the completion of an audit report
from the Special Districts Association of Oregon.

Abel added that while all this is happening, he has been impressed with the
district’s responders, including the crews that responded to a structure fire
and an “extensive” brush fire in April.

Kline’s new role as Interim Deputy Chief was expected to begin on Friday, May 1.