PRINEVILLE, OR -- Crook County Fire and Rescue is among eight local agencies receiving an infusion of cash this summer from the State Fire Marshal. Chief Matt Smith tells KBND News they’re getting $31,818, "And that’s going to help us put, on many days throughout the summer, an additional wildland response vehicle with two paid staff in the vehicle, ready to respond to wildland fires."

For Crook County, it won’t pay for new hires, but helps cover costs that might otherwise be difficult for a small agency on a limited budget, "They could be our career members that are on overtime. Currently, we have a part time program, so they could be our part time or our volunteers that actually staff the vehicle," says Smith. "Staffing is always a struggle in the summertime. So, for a small agency, where we’re limited on the number of career staff that we can afford, this additional money really helps us be able to have as many vehicles available with people in them ready to respond. Otherwise, we rely on callback and volunteers to hit an increased call volume." He says summer is always busy, "So that could be  - in our area, calls out in the reservoirs, where people are out doing recreation. And certainly, during the dry periods when we can get a wind event or a thunderstorm event, we get a significant spike."

Black Butte Ranch Fire will receive around $21,000. Deputy Chief Jason Ellison says it's a big boost, "We go from 500 to 6,000 people during the summertime. So it allows us to have extra staffing for the call demand. Not only for medical calls on the ranch, but also for wildfires in the region." Ellison says the State Fire Marshal grant allows BBRFD to use money they would normally spend on summer staffing for upgraded equipment or other resources. "It also allows us to support the state when there’s major wildfires."

Alfalfa, Cloverdale, Crooked River Ranch, Jefferson County, La Pine and Warm Springs also receive 2023 Wildfire Season Staffing grants. OSFM awarded $6 million to 185 agencies statewide, prioritizing small agencies, many of which rely on volunteers. It's part of a multi-pronged approach to combat wildfire in Oregon. Over the last two years, the OSFM has made investments to modernize the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to be better prepared for wildfire. Bend and Redmond received grants in 2022. These grants are paid for through SB 762, approved in 2021. 

Photo courtesy Black Butte Fire District