The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Six Central Oregon fire departments are receiving new fire apparatus as a result of the Office of State Fire Marshal’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative. Two of those districts serve Sisters Country.

Funding for the program was a result of the passage of Senate Bill 762 in the 2021 legislative session. The program was funded with $25 million to support capacity enhancements across the state. Statewide, 76 local agencies were awarded new apparatus through the program.

Central Oregon agencies receiving new apparatus include:

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District —water tender.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District — Type 3 fire engine.

Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District — Type 3 fire engine.

Jefferson County Rural Fire Protection District #1 — Type 3 fire engine.

Bend Fire Department — Type 6 fire engine.

La Pine Rural Fire Protection District — water tender.

Deschutes County Fire Defense Board Chief Roger Johnson said, “These investments in Central Oregon will not only improve local response capabilities, but will also add capacity to the statewide Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS).”

The OFMAS system is made up of the more than 300 local fire departments in the state which are mobilized under the Emergency Conflagration Act. Central Oregon fire departments actively participate in the OFMAS program and also receive resources through the program for significant wildfires in the region.

Local agencies aren’t likely to see the new vehicles until the spring of 2024 due to the extended build time for the vehicles. The vehicles will arrive fully equipped with the equipment necessary to respond to wildland fire incidents.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said, “Over the last three decades, more communities have been impacted by wildfire. This investment is a major step forward in carrying out our mission to protect people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials.”