It is with very heavy hearts that Local 1431 announces that we lost two of our firefighters on Thursday, April 24th in an ATV accident.  Local 1431 members John R. Wells and Gale C. Gurr were killed in a tragic accident while riding in a Polaris Razor in the John's Peak OHV area near Jacksonville, OR.  After an exhaustive search of the area by Local 1431 members, other local IAFF members, and Jackson County search and rescue teams throughout the night Thursday, John and Gale were found in a drainage by a search and rescue helicopter Friday morning.  Funeral arrangements are still being worked out but have tentatively been scheduled for Wednesday, April 30th.

Firefighter John R. Wells, 51,  was a 15 year veteran of the Medford Fire Department and leaves behind a wife and daughter.

Engineer Gale C. Gurr, 37, was a 9 year veteran of the Medford Fire Department and leaves behind a wife and two young girls.

Anyone who would like to donate to the families of John and Gale can do so by mailing checks made out to the "Medford Firefighters Association" to:

Medford Firefighters Association, PO Box 1202, Medford, OR  97501