ABOUT Jefferson County Fire District #1

DEPARTMENT HISTORY

From the incorporation of Madras in 1914 to 1952 there was virtually no fire protection outside of the City limits. In 1946 when the military left the Madras Air Base they donated a 1940 Chevrolet fire truck to the City. This engine, known as the Outlaw , was the only engine used to protect property outside of the City limits. The City engines were not allowed to go beyond the City limits. The Outlaw was kept at the Madras Fire Hall and staffed by the City's firefighters.

On May 22, 1952, a group of area farmers drew up a petition to form the North Unit Rural Fire Protection District and elected its first five member Board of Directors. The name North Unit was used because the District's boundaries were the same as the North Unit Irrigation District . The boundary has changed very little from the original 200 square miles.

The new Fire District contracted with the City of Madras and the City of Culver for fire suppression services. In 1953 the District purchased two American LaFrance engines; they put one in the Culver station and one in the Madras station. The District's engines were used on fires outside of the respective city limits, but were staffed with the Cities' volunteer firefighters.

On July 1, 1964, the Fire District and the City of Madras split their firefighting forces due to a breakdown in the terms of a contract renewal. The Fire District moved its equipment to another location and started recruiting volunteers.

On April 12, 1984, the District's name was changed to Jefferson County Rural Fire Protection District #1 . The name was changed to make it more reflective of the location of the District.

On August 13, 1985, the City of Madras annexed into the Fire District and dissolved their fire department. The Volunteer Ambulance Association was kept separate and today is a very viable and professional service. They operate under the name Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services District .

Over the years the District has added apparatus and career staff. The District operates out of the main station in Madras and a substation in Culver. There are currently five career staff and approximately 35 volunteers in the Madras station; the Culver station has approximately 15 volunteer staff.

On July 1, 1996, the City of Culver entered into an intergovernmental agreement for fire protection services with Jefferson County Fire District. The management of Culver Fire Department is now being done through Jefferson County Fire District. The fire station is now a sub-station to Jefferson County Fire District.

The five career staff are: Fire Chief, Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal, Support Services Firefighter, Training Captain, and an Administrative Assistant. The District also has five scholarship students attending Fire Science classes at Central Oregon Community College.

In September of 1989, the Fire District moved into the present location. The new fire station houses 14 of the 18 pieces of apparatus with the other 4 located in the Culver Fire Station.

The District's apparatus and location is:

• MADRAS:
  
  • 1 Light Rescue
  • 2 Quick attack light brush engine
  • 2 Heavy brush engines
  • 3 Structure engines
  • 1 Water tender
  • 2 Utility vehicles - a pickup and van
  • 1 Command vehicle - an Explorer
  • 1 Chief's vehicle - a Tahoe

• CULVER:
  
  • 1 Quick attack rescue/light brush engine
  • 1 Heavy brush engine
  • 1 Structure engine
  • 1 Water tender
  • 1 Utility vehicle - a van

The District runs approximately 550 calls a year with 60% of those being medical; ambulance assist or motor vehicle accidents. The District's evaluation is approximately 485 million dollars with 6,000 homes and a population of about 14,000 people.

The District provides fire suppression, medical assistance, fire prevention, public education, site plan reviews, business code inspections, preincident surveys, and many other services to the patrons of the Fire District.