From the Fire Chief's Desk

By Alan Hull, Fire Chief

The Rural Estacada Fire District covers approximately 80 square miles and includes the City of Estacada and surrounding area.  The District provides fire protection, emergency medical services, fire and life safety education and prevention services.  It is staffed by 12 paid career and 32 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel.  Estacada Fire District is a special service district governed by a Board of Directors elected by District residents.

By unanimous vote, the Board of Directors approved placement of a bond measure on the November General Election ballot.  This measure provides funding ($4.8 M) for construction of a new fire station, training facility, and acquisition of land ($1.2 M) adjacent to the current location.

The Board is asking District residents to consider a $6 million bond measure to be paid not to exceed 21 years.  This would represent an estimated 50 to 55 cents per $1000 of assessed property valuation at an annual cost of $50.00 to $55.00 for the owner of a home with an assessed valuation of $100,000.  The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of the estimate.

The Board of Directors placed the measure on the ballot for these reasons:

1.      Constructed in 1964, the Main Station located downtown is seismically vulnerable.  In a moderate to severe earthquake personnel, equipment and emergency vehicles could be trapped within the structure. In a crisis this facility is designated as “Emergency Operations Center” for the District which includes the City of Estacada.

2.      Volunteer firefighters allow the District to maintain current service levels.  Indoor facilities for education and training for volunteer and career staff are inadequate.  Outdoor training often requires traffic control or closure of streets.  The aging wood training tower does not allow interior fire suppression training or live fire training.  Current facilities make it difficult to meet increased Federal and State mandated training requirements.

3.      When the Main Station was built 41 years ago, the District responded to 100 calls annually with 2 paid and 20 volunteer personnel.  In 2005 the District responded to 1,377 calls with 12 paid and 32 volunteers.  With a total staff of 44, the Main Station has one public restroom, and one restroom with a shower and a toilet.  There are no separate facilities, including sleeping accommodations, for female members.

4.      Lack of space results in some emergency vehicles remaining outside and there is inadequate organized storage for firefighting equipment and turnouts.

5.      Lack of building space at current location will require purchase of six houses, one apartment building, and vacating two city streets.

Funding of these projects would give the District safer facilities from which to operate, especially during a major emergency, and would also provide improved training and living facilities for its volunteers.

Past Chief's Desk Reports: