Rising emergency calls strain Woodburn Fire District resources

District outlines challenges as Board begins future funding conversations

 

WOODBURN, Ore. — Woodburn Fire District is experiencing significant growth in emergency calls that is straining emergency response resources, prompting the District’s Board of Directors to begin public discussions about long-term funding options. Since 2015, the Fire District’s overall call volume has increased by approximately 80 percent, reflecting growing service demands across the District.

To help address this growth, the District secured a temporary federal grant that allowed it to hire eight additional firefighters. This short-term funding has enabled the District to staff two fire stations simultaneously and add a second emergency response unit, helping reduce delays in emergency response. With that grant-funded period nearing its conclusion, the District is evaluating how to maintain current staffing and service levels in the future.

“This fire district belongs to the people we serve,” said Fire Chief Jim Walker. “As we plan for temporary funding coming to an end, our responsibility is to be transparent about the challenges we face and ensure the community has a voice in what comes next.”

Woodburn Fire District is funded primarily through property taxes and operates under a balanced budget guided by a strategic plan, with a long history of passing independent financial audits and an AA financial rating from banking institutions.

The Board of Directors is considering whether to ask residents for voter-approved funding in 2026 to help maintain current staffing levels and service capacity. No decision has been made, and all Board meetings are open to the public.

 Woodburn Fire District provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention, and life safety services to approximately 40,000 residents across 75 square miles. The District serves the cities of Woodburn and Gervais, along with surrounding unincorporated areas of Marion County, and responds to an average of 4,000 emergency calls annually.