Clackamas Fire District – Proposed Emergency Services Levy

An open letter from Clackamas Fire District  Chief Nick Browne

Dear Community Member:

    I serve as your Fire Chief in one of the largest fire protection districts in Oregon. Clackamas Fire District covers 235 square miles, serves 220,000 Oregonians, and responds to nearly 30,000 annual calls. As an independent, special district, we operate separately from Clackamas County and the State of Oregon. As it stands, our permanent tax rate simply cannot keep up with the increased and diversified needs of our communities. This funding gap has led to persistent staffing challenges including the inability to maintain coverage at several rural fire stations. 

Right now, Clackamas Fire District is exploring a local option levy, intended for the May 2023 ballot. Unlike other large fire agencies in the Portland Metro area, Clackamas Fire District does not have an enhanced levy to fund firefighter positions and equipment needs. This process has not been taken lightly, and our Future Funding Taskforce has prioritized three critical areas in need of funding in relation to the proposed levy: (1) staffing, (2) alternative response, and (3) wildfire response. 

1. Staffing: Clackamas Fire District crews are understaffed. A levy would fund 58-66 full-time positions, which would allow for four-person staffing in most fire stations. This would bring Clackamas Fire District in alignment with national standards and best practices, which call for each apparatus to be staffed with four firefighters. An enhanced levy would also enable 24/7 career staffing at Logan and Clarkes Fire Stations, two of our rural stations that are on the front line of our fight against wildfires. Providing 24/7 staffing at these stations would significantly enhance emergency response effectiveness and place firefighters and equipment closer to areas with significant wildfire risk. 

2. Alternative Response: Right now, our heaviest resources (fire engines) respond to low acuity calls. In other words, our biggest fire engines currently respond to calls that are less urgent and do not require multiple, large rigs. This puts unnecessary stress and increases costs on the system. We want to invest in an alternative response model for these low acuity calls to better serve the community. In other words, we want to send the right rig to the right call.

3. Wildfires: In 2020, over a 72-hour period, Clackamas Fire District responded to 144 working fires, and 24 greater alarm fires. Since 2020, wildfire risk within District boundaries has only increased.  We have carefully considered all options to best support our work on the front lines of wildfires, and believe that levy funding will significantly aid in our efforts:

• 24/7 staffing at rural stations would significantly enhance emergency response effectiveness across a wide territory. 
• Strategic placement of firefighters and equipment closer to areas with significant wildfire risk. 
• Support mitigation work.

Clackamas Fire District strives to fulfill our purpose, mission, and vision. As we continue through the levy development process, we are asking the community for your input and reaction. You can provide direct feedback through this survey, linked here , or via email:  cfdpio@clackamasfire.com

We are forever grateful for your support and the opportunity we have to better serve you.

 Thank you.

Chief Nick Browne