WOODBURN FIRE DISTRICT
Mutual Aid Fire Partnerships
Woodburn Firefighters are off to a busy start in the month of July with high temperatures, low humidity, and wind increasing the risk of fire. To meet the increased demand for fire protection, Woodburn career and volunteer firefighters have been assisted by neighboring fire districts through mutual-aid agreements.
On July 4th, the fire district responded to three overlapping residential fires between 10:00 and 10:17 pm all which were started by fireworks. Woodburn’s career and volunteer firefighters were assisted by fire crews from Keizer, Hubbard, Mt. Angel, St. Paul, Aurora, Monitor, and Marion County District 1. All three incidents that had the potential of fully involving the homes with fire were quickly brought under control with minimal damage.
On the afternoon of July 14th a 2-alarm commercial fire affected two businesses on 99E in Woodburn. The fire started in a storage building adjacent to the rear of the Raven Tavern and Solo Screen Printing and quickly spread into the businesses before it being brought under control. Woodburn’s career and volunteer firefighters were assisted by firefighters from Hubbard, Monitor, Canby, Mt. Angel and Marion County District 1. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire districts throughout Marion County have long-standing auto-aid agreements in which all of the districts commit to automatically providing assistance to each other. The reciprocal agreements allow outside fire districts to quickly answer the call for help for the protection of life and property whenever needed.
In a statement released shortly after the Fourth of July fires, Woodburn’s Fire Chief Joe Budge thanked all the neighboring fire district’s that came to the aid of Woodburn residents, “Without the immediate help from our neighbors, we would not have been able to quickly bring these fires under control. The assistance provided is in keeping with the finest traditions of the fire service and allowed Woodburn firefighters to continually provide the high level of fire protection and life safety that the residents of the fire district expect and deserve”.
For the fires that occurred on July 4th and 14th, the Woodburn Fire District had two crews of career firefighters on-duty that responded from the district’s main station on Newberg Hwy and Station 22 on James Street just west of Highway 99E in Woodburn. The fire district began staffing Station 22 with firefighters on a part-time basis earlier this year. “Having both fire engines staffed dramatically improved the ability of the fire district to quickly extinguish the fires earlier this month. Increased staffing improves the safety of both the residents and the firefighters”, commented Chief Budge. The district plans to incrementally increase the staffing at Station 22 starting later this year as additional tax revenue comes to the district from the extensive residential and industrial development that is occurring in the fire district.
During the hot dry summer months, the Woodburn Fire District would like to remind all residents to exercise caution with all ignition sources by following a few simple fire safety tips:
- Place barbeque grills well away from siding and decking and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. Do not use open flame grills on wood decks.
- Clean outdoor grills after each use to avoid the potential of grease fires.
- Allow barbeque coals to cool before disposing of them in a metal container.
- Remove all flammable materials such as woodpiles and propane tanks within 30 feet of your home.
- Clear leaves and debris from roofs, gutters, porches and decks.
- Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits should not be used during burn ban days and should be placed at least 10 feet away from your home or anything that can burn. To find out if a burn ban is in place, contact Marion County’s burn line by calling (503) 982-0011.