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Serving Ozark and Christian County, MO since 1905

Meet the Team

Meet the Ozark FPD Firefighters and Divisions

The Ozark Fire Protection District lives by the organization’s mission statement.

Our team of dedicated firefighters and first responders is committed to excellence in every aspect of service to our community.

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The Ozark Fire District operates three fully staffed stations, strategically located to ensure optimal emergency response coverage. Crews follow a 48/96-hour shift schedule, rotating through A, B, and C shifts. The district employs a total of 41 personnel, including both administrative and line staff, working together to provide exceptional fire protection and emergency services.

Our administrative staff includes the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief of Prevention, Assistant Chief of Training, and an Administrative Coordinator, all dedicated to ensuring the efficient operation of the district.

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Our line staff is composed of 3 Battalion Chiefs, 9 Captains, 9 Engineers, and 16 Firefighters, each playing a critical role in emergency response and daily operations. Together, our team works seamlessly to provide the highest level of fire protection and public safety to our community.

We are a strong team with the duty to aggressively serve our community with integrity and excellence. 

Chief Officers

Director Angie Johns

Jarett Metheny

Fire Chief

May 1, 2020

5 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Aaron Heaton

Assistant Chief

December 16, 2007

18 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jeffrey Owens

Assistant Chief

October 7, 2019

6 Years of District Service

Administrative Coordinator

Melinda York

Director Angie Johns

Admin. Coordinator

December 1, 2008

17 Years of District Service

Battalion Chiefs

Director Angie Johns

Full Name

Position

January 3, 2019

6 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Full Name

Position

August 20, 2011

14 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Full Name

Position

June 21, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Captains

Director Angie Johns

Sean Ware

Captain

December 31, 2006

19 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Kyle Heminger

Captain

May 1, 2019

6 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Justin Cagney

Captain

July 13, 2020

5 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Brad Arnott

Captain

October 7, 2013

12 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Paul Winking

Captain

May 1, 2019

6 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Burt Roberts

Captain

May 1, 2019

6 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Derek Compton

Captain

September 10, 2017

8 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Dave Hubbard

Captain

July 13, 2020

5 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Aaron Lay

Captain

April 22, 2009

16 Years of District Service

Engineers

Director Angie Johns

Matt Gallina

Engineer

January 2, 2008

17 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Cory Fasone

Engineer

October 19, 2020

5 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jacob Reynolds

Engineer

February 22, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Eric Eberhart

Engineer

March 2, 2012

13 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Mitch Beary

Engineer

February 22, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Ryan Bernhardt

Engineer

March 3, 2014

11 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Dustin Cutbirth

Engineer

February 22, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Austin Essick

Engineer

June 17, 2019

6 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jake Stokes

Engineer

February 22, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Firefighters

Director Angie Johns

Eleazar Soto

Firefighter

January 28, 2008

17 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Austin White

Firefighter

February 28, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Ryan Rush

Firefighter

July 24, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Kendra Anthony

Firefighter

February 22, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jacob Morelan

Firefighter

June 27, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Braden Loehr

Firefighter

July 24, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Matthew Garrison

Firefighter

February 22, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Matthew Dilday

Firefighter

July 24, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jarett Crain

Firefighter

October 30, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jared Stover

Firefighter

August 23, 2022

3 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

Jesse Gearhart

Firefighter

July 24, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Director Angie Johns

David Masterson

Firefighter

October 30, 2023

2 Years of District Service

Retirees

Director Angie Johns

Engineer Mike Gardner

Served the District from 11/2/2011 to 9/28/2021

10 Years of Service to the District

Director Angie Johns

Firefighter Mike Williams

Served the District from 11/30/2005 to 6/23/2022

17 Years of Service to the District

Director Angie Johns

Battalion Chief Shawn Martin

Served the District from 11/30/2015 to 12/9/2022

7 Years of Service to the District

Director Angie Johns

Battalion Chief Paul Tyler

Served the District from 7/25/2016 to 1/6/2023

7 Years of Service to the District

Ozark Fire Protection District Emblem

Our Fire District Team Division

The Ozark Fire District is comprised of four interconnected divisions that work collaboratively to ensure seamless service delivery. These divisions—Administration, Operations, Training, and Prevention—each play a vital role in maintaining efficiency, safety, and compliance while providing high-quality emergency and fire prevention services to the community.

Administrative Division at the Fire Station

Administrative Division

The Administrative Division oversees essential business functions related to district services, ensuring operational efficiency and compliance. Its key responsibilities include budgetary oversight, policy and procedural compliance, and human resources management. This division plays a critical role in maintaining fiscal responsibility, enforcing regulations, and supporting personnel to enhance overall organizational effectiveness.

Operations Division

The Operations Division manages the deployment of district resources to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to the public. This division is responsible for overseeing apparatus, equipment, and facilities while also supervising special operations critical to fire service functions. By maintaining operational readiness and resource allocation, the division ensures the highest level of emergency response and public safety.

Firefighters Working
Training

Training Division

The Training Division serves as a vital support element to Operations, delivering high-intensity advancement training to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This division is also responsible for overseeing fire investigations, leading community outreach efforts, and acting as the district’s information officer. Through continuous training and public engagement, the division enhances operational effectiveness and strengthens community relations.

Prevention Division

The Prevention Division is responsible for community risk reduction through proactive prevention and inspection efforts. This division assists with plan reviews, code enforcement, special event permitting, public education, and pre-planning. By ensuring compliance with safety regulations and fostering public awareness, the division plays a crucial role in minimizing risks and enhancing community safety

Firefighters providing public education to school
Fire Station Information
Fire Station 1

District HQ

Fire Station 1

604 North 3rd Street

Ozark, MO 65721

M-F:  7:30 am – 4:00 pm

Fire Station 2

Fire Station 2

6052 North 25th Street

Ozark, MO 65721

M-F  7:30 am – 4:00 pm

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4545 South Highway W

Ozark, MO 65721

M-F  7:30 am – 4:00 pm

Fire Station 3

Vintage Ozark Fire Truck
Image by Andrew Childress

Ozark Fire Protection District History and Timeline

The Ozark Fire Protection District serves 110 square miles of Christian County Missouri.  We provide emergency services to the cities of Ozark, Fremont Hills, and surrounding unincorporated portions of Christian County.  We also provide mutual aid for the communities of Nixa, Sparta, Highlandville, Chadwick, Rogersville, Battlefield, and Springfield.

Ozark Fire Protection District History and Timeline

1904

The south side of the historic square burned. There was one home and three stores that were lost in the fire. At the time, there was no fire protection in Ozark.

1906

The east side of the historic square burned. The newspaper (Tribune) was in one of the buildings and some homes. These were some of the oldest buildings on the square, dating back to the 1880s.

1917

The north side of the square burned. The Taylor Hotel, Williams Café, and Dad Reece’s Bakery burned.

1962

Bill McNabb is the Fire Chief (1962-2000).

1967

Ozark Fire purchased a new fire truck with a 750-gallon pump.

1984

A tax levy is 30 cents.

2000

Jake Archer is named the Fire Chief.

2005

January – Ozark Fire Protection District begins the first day of service.
 

February – We hired full-time, around-the-clock firefighters–2 per shift.

2007

April – Tax Levy to 38 cents from 30 cents (allowed for an increase of staffing to 6 firefighters per shift).

2010

January – Station #3 opens with a residency program.

June – Darren White is named full-time Fire Chief (2010-2019).

2012

Proposition A, a tax levy increase, failed.

2014

February – First Battalion Chief (Shift Commander) hired.
 

March – Six additional firefighters are hired because of the tax increase.
 

April – Station 3 opens 24/7/365 with career staff.

2017

April – Station 1 floods from rising waters of the Finley River.

April – Old Station #2 closes due to mold being found and the building being declared uninhabitable.

 June – Inaugural Citizens Fire Academy class graduates 13 students.

2019

Susie Ballard and Angie Johns are elected to the Board of Director positions.

Fire Chief Darren White retires.

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Assistant (later reclassified to Deputy Chief) Rob Crawford is the interim Chief.

 

Longtime member and President of the Board of Directors Jay Johnson resigns.

2021

January – Station #3 closes after the mold is discovered in the building and is declared uninhabitable.


April - Proposition fire passed by nearly 2/3 in favor
 

September - Engineer Mike Garner Retired after 10 Years of Service for the District

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December - Proposition fire passed by nearly 2/3 in favor

Firefighter servicing the fire truck
Vintage Ozark Fire Truck

1905

Ozark built the first fire department house in the city. The first fire wagon was a big two-wheel cart, and the fire hose was wound between the two big wheels. The volunteer firefighters would pull the cart by hand if a horse were unavailable. There was a big bell on a post at the firehouse. The first man there rang the bell to sound the alarm.

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That bell is at Fire Station 1, was made by C.S. Bell & Co., and is over 100 years old, manufactured between 1882 and 1894. 

Ale Miller is the first Fire Chief (1905-1916).

Ozark, MO First Firehouse Bell

1910

The west side of the square burned, including Bingham Hardware, J.M. Pullen’s Photography Gallery, and J.K. Wallace’s Sheet Metal Establishment.

Aftermath of the fire on the square at Ozark in 1910. The Ozark Mill burns at night in 1939.

1927

Ozark Fire bought its first new fire truck.

1966

$20,000 bond passed for capital purchases.

1983

Station 1 is built.

1990

Stations #2 and #3 construction was completed for the Ozark Rural Fire Protection District, a separate agency with the same leadership as the City Fire Department.

 

A bond was passed for capital purchases.

2004

February – Full-time firefighters are hired for the first time in the 100-year history of the agency.  We were able to hire two firefighters per shift 8-hour shift. Two firefighters were employees for the City of Ozark, and two were for the Ozark Rural FPD. The nights and weekend shifts were for volunteers only.
 

August – Merger of the municipal Ozark Fire Department and the Ozark Rural Fire District to the Ozark Fire Protection District. Jake Archer is the Fire Chief.

2006

August – Station 1 expanded to present-day size. Gordon Dippel is the Fire Chief.

2008

February – Old Station #2 opened (CC @ North 22nd Street) 2 firefighters were assigned per shift to this location.

 

February – Darren White is named interim Chief.

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March – Living Quarters at Station 1 are flooded by waters from the Finley River.

2011

March – OFPD delivers twin fire engines (2011 Ferrara Fire Engines).

2013

ISO audit grades OFPD at a four inside the city limits and a nine outside the city limits.

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April – Tax levy increase approved to 63 cents.

2015

July – Station 1 floods from rising waters of the Finley River.

2018

August – The District hires the first Fire Marshal, Don Gregory.

2020

March – peers elected Susie Ballard to President of the Board of Directors, and Will Reynolds was selected as Treasurer.

 

May – Jarett Metheny is hired as Fire Chief.

 

June – Matt Growcock was selected to fill the remaining time of former director Johnson’s seat.

 

July – Reclassification of Administrative Chiefs; Rob Crawford to Deputy Chief, Don Gregory to Assistant Chief.

 

September – Fire Station #2 is opened and located at 6052 North 25th St., covering the north side of the district.

 

November – Ten-year strategic plan is presented to the Board of Directors.

2022

February – Hired 6 additional firefighter positions.

 

April – Purchased land on Hwy NN (N. 9th St.) for the Future Fire Station #1 and Training Center with 2021 Proposition Fire Bond Money

 

July – Reclassification of Chief Officers. Rob Crawford to Battalion Chief, Aaron Heaton to Assistant Chief of Training, and Jeff Owens to Assistant Chief of Prevention/Fire Marshal.

Firefighter Mike Williams Retired after 20 Years of Service for the District.

 

August – Hired 3 additional firefighter positions.

 

September – Purchased and placed in-service 75-foot HME Aerial Apparatus – Purchased with 2021 Proposition Fire Bond Money.

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December – Battalion Chief Shawn Martin Retired after 7 Years of Service for the District

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2023

January – Battalion Chief Paul Tyler Retired after 7 Years of Service for the District


February - Hired 1 firefighter to fill vacant position.

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June - Hired 1 Brian Athen to fill vacant Battalion Chief position.

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Hired 1 firefighter to fill vacant position.

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September - Conducted a boat operations class to enhance our water rescue teams capabilities.

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November – Completed the remodel of Station #3 after being closed due to mold since 2021 - Completed with 2021 Proposition Fire Bond Money

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November – Purchased 45 Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs) and 2 Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Packs to replace SCBAs that were nearing service life.

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December – Purchased Inmar water rescue boat to be used with our water rescue team.

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December – Placed New Pumper/Tanker in service at Station #3 – Purchased with 2021 Proposition Fire Bond Money and Grant

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2024

October – Started the process for New Fire Station #1

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1st Annual Guns & Hoses Softball game between Ozark Fire Protection District and Ozark PD.

 

November – Jim Price was selected to fill the remaining term of former director Ballard’s seat.

2023 Continued

Future

​Future – Ordered 2024 E-One 75 Foot Aerial – Future delivery in 2025.

October – Placed 2 Command Staff Vehicles in service for the two Assistant Chiefs with 2021 Proposition Fire Bond Money.

Purchase F-550 to be placed into service as Brush Truck for Station #2 with 2021 Proposition Fire Bond Money

PRESENT

OFPD History & Timeline

The Ozark Fire Protection District Map and Fire Station Locations

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In Case of an Emergency, Dial 911!

For questions, support, or additional information, please contact us via phone or by filling out the contact form below.

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Our Stations

Crews are available 24/7 for emergency response!

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Fire Station 1

604 N. 3rd Street.

Ozark, MO 65721

M-F: 7:30 am - 4 pm

Fire Station 2

6052 N. 25th Street.

Ozark, MO 65721

Fire Station 3

4545 S. Highway W

Ozark, MO 65721

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