OREGON CITY FIRE CHIEF ACCEPTS UAF POSITION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 1996
Fairbanks, Alaska ¤ The top man at OregonÃs Ontario Fire and Rescue Department has accepted the post of fire chief at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Michael Supkis, a firefighter with 20 years of experience in the Pacific Northwest, will begin his new job at UAF June 24.
Supkis replaces Vern Long, who left UAF in March 1995; Deputy Fire Chief Michael Holzmueller and UAF firefighter Mitch Flynn have both served as acting fire chief since LongÃs departure.
Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Michael Rice, who oversees both the UAF police and fire departments, said Supkis brings an impressive record of service in fire and rescue to UAF.
oeIÃm pleased we are able to attract an individual of such high caliber to our institution. The UAF Fire Department plays a key role in service not only to the campus but to residents throughout Interior Alaska. Fire Chief Supkis will be a great asset in our continued efforts to provide quality fire and rescue service to the community,” said Rice.
The UAF Fire Department serves the University Fire Service District, an area encompassing about 22 square miles both on and off the campus. The department is one of only a handful in the nation providing highly technical training for student firefighters, with a current wait list of about 50 wanting to get into the program.
Supkis began his firefighting career with the Moscow (Idaho) Fire Department. He received his bachelorÃs degree in forest resource management from the University of Idaho in 1980 and has been a fire service instructor, firefighter, emergency medical technician and fire chief in Idaho and Oregon.
Since 1990, Supkis has been the fire chief of the Ontario (Oregon) Fire and Rescue Department, serving the 78-square-mile Ontario Rural Fire Protection District. As chief, Supkis oversaw a 38-member fire and rescue department providing emergency medical and hazardous waste management services along with fire and rescue response. As a member of the city of Ontario executive management team, he participated with the police, public works, planning and finance director in operating the city under a team management approach working with the city manager.
Supkis has developed long-range capital improvement strategies for fire and rescue operations, has provided fire service training programs and was involved with the development of a fire science program with the Ontario-area community college.
Supkis is married and has two children.
CONTACT: UAF Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Michael Rice, (907) 474-7340, or UAF Public Information Officer Debra Damron, (907) 474-7581.
UAF News releases available electronically at: http://info.alaska.edu:70/1s/UA/UA_Fairbanks/URIA/News
DPD/6-5-96/96-083