Chief Thomas Vineyard
Chief Vineyard began his fire service career in 1988 with the Mid-County Fire Protection District of St. Louis County. He was promoted to Captain in 1995, Training Officer in 1999 and was appointed Fire Chief in 2004. Chief Vineyard also served as Fire Chief with the Monarch Fire Protection District from 2012 through 2014. Chief Vineyard was hired as Fire Chief of the O’Fallon Protection District on May 19, 2014, 2012. Chief Vineyard currently resides in St. Peters, MO with his wife Maureen of 24 years, and children Benjamin and Hanna.
Chief Vineyard’s current State of Missouri Certifications include Firefighter I & II, Fire Officer I & II, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator and Fire Instructor II. He currently holds national certification as Fire Department National Safety Officer. He is also a Hazardous Materials Technician and Duty Officer with the St. Charles County Hazardous Materials Response Team. He has been through training on the National Incident Management System basic, advanced and command level courses. He also serves as President for the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association. Chief Vineyard has an AAS in Fire Technology and is currently completing his BS in Fire Service Management, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
Battalion Chief Mel Emge
Battalion Chief Emge started with the O’Fallon Fire Protection District in 1976 as a Volunteer Firefighter. Battalion Chief Emge was promoted to Career Firefighter in 1997. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1999 and to his current rank of Battalion Chief in 2001. He is currently assigned to A-Shift.
Battalion Chief Emge holds Missouri State Certifications in: Firefighter I and II, Fire Instructor II, Evaluator, and Driver Operator. He is also an Instructor for the St. Charles County Fire Academy instructing water supply and ground cover firefighting. He was certified as a Building Inspector and worked part time in the Fire Prevention Bureau as an Inspector from 1999-2002.
Battalion Chief Emge Committee presently serves on the Labor Management Committee, and assists with District technology services.
Battalion Chief Rick Miller
Battalion Chief Miller started with the O’Fallon Fire Protection District as a Volunteer Firefighter in February 1986. He was promoted to Career Firefighter in December 1989, to Captain in September 1997, and to Battalion Chief in February 2016. He is currently assigned to B-Shift.
Battalion Chief Miller has an A.A.S. in Business from Columbia Southern University. He holds Missouri State Certifications in Firefighter I and II, Fire Officer I and II, Fire Service Instructor II, Fire Investigator, EMT, and Driver/Operator. He is a Rescue Squad Officer with Missouri Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue and a Rescue Squad Officer with the St. Louis Metro USAR Strike Team One. He is trained to the technician level in high angle, confined space, structural collapse, trench and swift water rescue. Battalion Chief Miller is also an Adjunct Instructor for the Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute.
Battalion Chief Andy Parrish
Battalion Chief Parrish started his journey with the O’Fallon Fire Protection District in 1991 as a Volunteer Firefighter. He was promoted to Career Firefighter in 1997, and to Captain in 2001. He remained a Captain for the next 14 years until he was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief in June of 2015. He is currently assigned to C-shift.
Battalion Chief Parrish has a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University and an A.A.S. in Fire Technology from East Central College. Battalion Chief Parrish holds the following Missouri State Certifications: Firefighter I and II, Fire Officer I and II, Fire Instructor I and II, Fire Investigator, and Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator. He has a Missouri EMT license and is an American Heart Association CPR instructor. In January 2016 he completed his Blue Card Certification for incident management.
Battalion Chief Parrish enjoys serving the community and is active with the fire district’s Honor Guard Team, O’Fallon Firefighters Community Outreach, Truck Committee, Hiring Committee, and Labor Management Committee.