■
Fire
department
combines
protection
and
first aid
service
By Cindy Ralston
Since the first official record of its begin­
ning, the Estacada Rural Volunteer Fire
Department has been through many changes.
The first official record of organized fire
fighting in the Estacada area was a meeting
held in August 1910 when two fire com­
panies were formed to man two hand-drawn
hose carts.
The fire hall was then located on the
property now occupied by the American
Legion Hall and one of these carts was
stationed there while the other was located
in a small building on the grade school
property on upper Main Street.
A major change in the Estacada Fire
Department was the donation of a Model-T
Ford to the City of Estacada. This was the
first motorized equipment used by the fire
hall and was used as a hose wagon. It also
pulled hand-drawn equipment if enough
power was available.
This truck is still on display at the fire
static and is still in good running condi­
tion. it is often seen in the Estacada Timber
Festival parade along with other fire fight­
ing equipment.
In 1938,, the City of Estacada purchased
a new 500-gallon per minute pumper and at
that time all out-moded equipment was dis­
posed of .
The Estacada Fire Department was con­
fined to city limits until 1951 when the
Sparky, Estacada Fire Department mascot, patiently awaits a fire call. Spark]
full-time resident of the fire hall, is always near the action.
local firemen purchased and leased some
equipment.
A considerable amount of valuable prop­
erty was saved and in 1954 the Currins-
ville-Cazadero Fire Protection District was
formed. All equipment has been purchased
by the fire district since that time and since
that time the name of the fire district was
changed by a vote of the people to Esta­
cada-Rural Fire District No. 69. When the
City of Estacada was annexed to the rural
fire district, the district also spread out to
include outlying areas such as Springwater,
George, Eagle Creek and other areas.
The fire department was once housed in
a section of the Estacada City Hall until
1964 when the present fire station was com­
pleted.
The current fire department consists of
44 volunteers who spend an average of 12
hours per month in training and exercises.
These volunteers include school teachers,
sawmill employes, telephone company em­
ployes, mechanics and housewives.
Chief of the fire department is Rex
Jeffries and he responds to 90 per cent of
the calls unless he is not at home. The fire
department is on call 24 hours a day. Paid
fire fighters are on call for eight hours a day.
Besides responding to fire calls, t®
cada Fire Department provides res«
first aid services. The department]
special rescue vehicle and respond!]
thing from cuts to heart attacks. Jeffrl
the department responded to 93 alarm
year most of which were first aid a
The volunteers are the main ma]
of the fire district according to Jefra
the fire department consists of a pail
of five. This staff includes the Chief!
tary, Captain and Lieutenant.
Eighty-five square miles are coral
the fire department and of these 851
miles 75 per cent is timber and brim
The two fire stations, one located]
George area and the Estacada Fire St]
adequately cover the fire district. I
The Fire Department maintains its!
treasury and operating revenue is obi
through celebrations, ball games,parti]
advertising campaigns. A special fra
partment celebration is the annual]
man's Ball.
The Estacada Fire Department ha
gone many changes but the old fam]
bell purchased around 1904 isstillth]
erty of the firemen and is mounted!
new fire hall tower.
Police
Department
Photos by Norma Bennick
Robert Wiley, Estacada Police Chief, has been on the corp for seven years as chief.
According to Wiley, vandalism is on the downward slope.
Clackamas Community!
Estacada
Page 6
inches
I
7
L*
b*
D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer
The city of Estacada is patrolled
a day by four officers and Robertffl
who has been Chief of Police forffl
years.
Most of their calls are for theftsaffl
glaries. "The best prevention for tffl
neighborhood cooperation, by watch®
other," said Wiley. "People should 9
stall solid core doors with good franffl
dead locks."
Besides handling thefts and giviffl
citations the police force also givestffl
schools and other public groups.
"As on the national average 70 rf
of the crimes are committed by juve]
said Wiley, "but vandalism is on the]
ward slope."
"The biggest recent crime was Al
at the high school when burglars®
numerous items including cameras,®
tapes, and projectors," said Wiley. |
63.51
34.26
59.60
:
Density
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