Applegate Fire District 2025 Awards

The Applegate Fire District takes great pride in building a strong team, and that includes celebrating achievements. This past March, the District honored members for excellence in several areas in 2025. 2025 had an especially successful district-managed fire academy program, which resulted in eleven new firefighters! We wish them well as they begin their careers as first responders in Oregon and across the nation.

Completed Fire Academy

 Justin Adams
Greg Britt-Hart
James Davis
Damian Fernandez
Luke Mason

 John Rohr
Terry Schreck
Thomas Strate
James Swanson
Enrique Tovar
Taylor Tucker

Length of Service Awards
Five years—Dan Bowers and Jason Schonhoff

Rookie of the Year
Joaquin Barragan

Student of the Year
Joaquin Barragan
Alessandro Acevedo

EMS Award for Achievement in Emergency Medical Services
Jonah Michael

Achieved Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification Paramedic
Thomas Crosse

Volunteer of the Year
Arthur Johnson

“Mary Ziegler” Family of the Year
Kariane Turnbull
Johnathan Turnbull

“Marc Chaput” Spirit Award
Jason Schonhoff

OFCA Meritorious Award
Josh Howell
Chris Partida

Firefighter of the Year
Alessandro Acevedo

Officer of the Year
McKenzie Turnbull

Chief’s Award
John Stagg

Hall of Flame
Tallie Jackson

Meritorious Conduct Award presented to Applegate Firefighters!

Late one evening, a community member was driving to a remote spot in the mountains above the Applegate Valley to join her family for camping. The woman’s vehicle rolled down a long, steep embankment, and she was ejected from the vehicle. At first, the woman could not be found by her family, but eventually she was located, and a 911 call was placed. Applegate Firefighter Chris Partida and Captain Josh Howell were the only Applegate Fire District emergency responders on duty at the time, and the nearest access for an engine was 1.5 miles from the remote accident site, requiring a long hike in the dark while transporting medical equipment to reach the patient.

Jacksonville Fire Department also responded, and by coincidence, an Ashland battalion chief and his son were in the area and came to the aid of the Applegate responders. After traversing rugged terrain, the emergency responders provided medical assistance, including an IV and stabilization of suspected fractures. The patient was transported out of the wildlands by a family member’s quad vehicle to a waiting Mercy Flights helicopter, and the responders hiked out.

Based on the exceptionally challenging circumstances of this call and the outstanding cooperation between several agencies, the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association Award for Meritorious Conduct was conferred on Applegate Captain Josh Howell and Firefighter Chris Partida, as well as the entire team of collaborating emergency responders and one civilian.

Ashland Fire and Rescue Chief Marshall Rasor had this to say about the award: “It has been a truly rewarding experience to highlight the resourcefulness, collaboration, and capability of southern Oregon agencies working together to accomplish shared goals.”

Thank you, Josh and Chris, for your service to our community!

Babette Rapp

President, Friends of the Applegate Fire District
brapp5@aol.com

Photo 1: Chris Partida and Josh Howell were honored with the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association Award for Meritorious Conduct. Photo: Liza Crosse.

Photo 2: New graduates (Mark Astry, Joaquin Barragan, Aiden Bland, Daniel Bowers, Greg Britt-Hart, Hunter Krouse, and Gage Nichol) of the Applegate Fire District’s Fire Academy being sworn in.