About us
Fire & EMS Providers
Blaine County Fire & Rescue is a combination department made up of full time, career personnel and part time “paid on call” personnel. Full time career personnel work a regular shift schedule as well as coming in off duty to back fill for major incidents or concurrent calls. Paid on call personnel also have the option (although not the requirement) of working shifts when slots are available, and also respond from home or work on major incidents and when additional staffing is needed. All personnel train to the highest standards to provide all hazard service to Blaine County. All hazard response includes structure fires, wildland fires, vehicle fires, EMS ambulance transport incidents, backcountry rescues and hazardous materials incidents.
Blaine County Fire & Rescue consists of approximately 115 firefighters and 125 EMS providers (EMT, Advanced EMT or Paramedic) and operating out of 5 structures treated as three “stations” (Ketchum Fire Station is the “Ketchum” station, Hailey Fire Station along with BC South Stations 1&2 in Hailey are considered the “Hailey” station, BC South Station 3 is the “Bellevue” station).
Blaine County Fire & Rescue Command Staff
Kevan Crawley
BC South Fire Protection District: Fire Chief
Blaine County Fire & Rescue: Fire Chief
Kevan Crawley serves as Fire Chief of the BC South Fire Protection District, a position he assumed in July 2025. He is leading the district through its historic consolidation with the Ketchum Fire District, Hailey Fire Department, and other agencies to form Blaine County Fire & Rescue, enhancing fire, EMS, and specialized rescue services across Blaine County, Idaho.
With more than 35 years of distinguished experience in public safety and the fire service, Chief Crawley brings proven executive leadership honed at the Indianapolis Fire Department. There, he most recently served as Deputy Chief of Logistics, overseeing a $25+ million budget, contributing to managing the total $287 million budget, sustaining operations across 43 stations and a 435-vehicle fleet, preparing 10- and 20-year capital replacement programs, implementing modern data analytics and accountability systems, and securing more than $53 million in grants. As Division Chief of Health & Safety, he established a new division and innovative programs in injury prevention, rehabilitation (saving the city millions in its first year), behavioral health, and wellness—co-authoring policy enacted into Indiana state law. His leadership helped the department achieve top-tier CPSE accreditation and an ISO Class 1 rating. Chief Crawley has contributed to national standards through NFPA research committees, chaired the First Responder Cancer Protection Advisory Board at the University of South Florida, and previously served as chairman of a suburban fire protection district board.
Chief Crawley holds three master’s degrees, completing his most recent—a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership/Fire Rescue Executive Leadership from Waldorf University—in January 2026. He also earned a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Air War College (2022) and a Master of Arts in Military Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (2014). He is an internationally accredited Chief Fire Officer (CFO), National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) graduate, attended the International Association’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI), and holds numerous NFPA, NIMS, and NFA credentials.
A Colonel in the United States Army Reserve with over 30 years of service—including overseas combat deployments to Bosnia and Iraq—Chief Crawley has held strategic and operational commands at the national level, bringing large-scale planning, incident management, and logistical expertise to public safety operations.
Committed to innovation, firefighter wellness, community engagement, and the highest standards of excellence, Chief Crawley is dedicated to delivering exceptional, all-hazards emergency services to the residents and visitors of Blaine County.
Mike Baledge
Hailey Fire Department: Fire Chief
Blaine County Fire & Rescue: Deputy Chief Community Risk Reduction
Chief Mike Baledge is a seasoned fire service professional with 28 years of experience serving the City of Hailey Fire Department, including 25 years as a full-time Captain, Deputy Chief, Chief, and Fire Marshal. He has specialized in fire prevention, emergency scene operations, and leadership, with a strong focus on community safety, education, and effective program management.
In his role, Mike is known for strong leadership, dedication to public service, and the ability to build and manage successful programs. He has led the City’s Fire Prevention Program for over 25 years, developing public education initiatives, inspection processes, and code development programs that have contributed to maintaining low fire incident rates. As Chief, he has overseen volunteer crew management and training while continuing to serve as Fire Marshal. He is also a certified EMS and Haz-mat instructor, educating hundreds of community members annually in fire safety, CPR, and emergency operations.
Outside of work, Mike is deeply committed to the Hailey community, where he lives and volunteers his time with several youth programs, including a youth archery club. Mike enjoys living in the valley and takes great pride in giving back to the place he calls home.
Jack Neiman-Kimel
Ketchum Fire Department: Deputy Chief Administration
Blaine County Fire & Rescue: Deputy Chief Administration
Jack Neiman-Kimel is the Deputy Fire Chief of the Ketchum Fire District and a fire service executive, educator, paramedic, and business leader with more than 35 years of experience in emergency services, leadership, training, and organizational management. He holds a Master of Arts in Leadership Theory from Saint Mary’s College and completed the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy. Throughout his fire service career, Jack has served in positions ranging from Firefighter/Paramedic and Fire Captain to Battalion Chief, Acting Deputy Fire Chief, Acting Fire Chief, Fire Chief of Training, and now Deputy Fire Chief.
During his tenure with the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Jack led numerous strategic and operational initiatives, including strategic planning, station construction projects, ISO improvement efforts, budget development, staffing administration, promotional process improvements, training program development, and EMS system enhancements. He has extensive experience in labor relations, personnel management, budgeting, policy development, risk reduction, and emergency operations. His leadership contributions have helped shape firefighter development programs, recruit academies, operational standards, and community-focused emergency services. Jack was recognized as Alameda County Paramedic of the Year and has served on numerous county and regional committees focused on EMS, safety, fire operations, and emergency preparedness.
In addition to his public service career, Jack founded and successfully operated American Health Education, building a highly respected healthcare and public safety training organization. As CEO, CFO, and Program Director, he developed EMT, paramedic, nursing assistant, fire officer, and continuing education programs that trained thousands of students annually. He managed all aspects of business operations, including curriculum development, regulatory compliance, financial management, strategic planning, and staff leadership. His unique combination of executive fire service leadership, emergency medical expertise, educational administration, and private-sector management provides him with a broad perspective on organizational effectiveness, workforce development, and public service excellence.
Bass Sears
BC South Fire Protection District: Operations Chief
Blaine County Fire & Rescue: Deputy Chief Operations
Sebastian “Bass” Sears serves as Operations Chief for BC South Fire Protection District, where he oversees daily fire and EMS operations, personnel development, strategic planning, and regional service delivery initiatives. With more than two decades of progressive leadership experience in the Wood River Valley fire service, Bass has advanced through every operational rank from paid-on-call firefighter to chief officer. He leads organizational improvements in staffing, emergency medical services, apparatus and facilities planning, communications systems, and operational readiness, while also helping guide regional consolidation efforts among multiple fire agencies throughout Blaine County.
Before assuming his current role, Bass spent 18 years with Wood River Fire & Rescue as a firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, captain, paramedic, instructor, and technical rescue leader. He holds degrees in Computer Science and Economics from Columbia University and brings a unique blend of emergency services, technology, and business leadership experience to his work.
Outside the fire service, with his wife of 30 years and his current two dogs he remains active in community organizations and enjoys whitewater rafting, skiing, mountain biking, sailing, and other outdoor pursuits that reflect his lifelong connection to Idaho’s mountains and rivers.