JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (Dec. 1, 2021) – Following a competitive hiring process, Tyler McCarty has been named District Forester of the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District serving Jackson and Josephine counties. McCarty, who has filled the role in an interim capacity since June 2021, brings more than 20 years of experience in fire protection, forestry and emergency services in southern Oregon to the role.
“It’s humbling to be selected as district forester of the district I’ve spent my career in,” McCarty said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead it and continue the good work in fire suppression and forestry that southern Oregon has come to expect.”
The formal recruitment drew in qualified candidates from numerous western states; each candidate that met minimum qualifications in firefighting and supervisory experience were then invited to participate in a two-panel interview process, background investigation and reference checks.
“Not only does Tyler have extensive experience in firefighting, but he has strong, established relationships with our partner agencies, local and state representatives, and above all, deep ties to the communities the district serves,” Dave Larson said, ODF Southern Oregon Area director. “I’m confident he’ll continue to lead the district forward in a successful manner – just as he did this past fire season.”
McCarty began his career in fire at 18 with the ODF Southwest Oregon District for the 2001 fire season, and as a volunteer structural firefighter with Jackson County Fire District 5. For the following two years, he interned with Grants Pass Fire-Rescue while completing his paramedic degree with Lane Community College in 2004.
Throughout this time, McCarty continued to work seasonally for ODF, quickly working his way up from a fire suppression specialist to a seasonal forest officer, permanent forest officer and eventually a wildland fire supervisor on the Medford Unit within the first six years of his career with the agency. In December 2015, he became the assistant district forester in Grants Pass, where he led the unit for the following six years. Throughout his career in fire, McCarty has also served on ODF incident management teams in a variety of roles; he will also be serving as the ODF Team 3 Incident Commander this upcoming season.