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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2017)
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017 S entinel C ottage G rove SOUTH LAN E FIR E & R E SCUE F IRE C HIEF ' S M ESSAGE - J OHN W OOTEN Hello, It is my pleasure to share this news with you during the 2017 Fire Prevention Week. With your help and support, our organization continues to improve, and enhance service delivery to our customers. This year’s theme for the 2017 Fire Prevention Week is “Every Second Counts Know 2 Ways Out!” It is essential your family or organization have an evacuation plan that includes a rendezvous point. Community Fire Protection Rating (ISO) The District’s ISO Rating remains at 2/4/10W and we are hearing good things from some of our customers about their homeowner insurance premiums. The ISO rating is a three part grading of the District factoring the organization itself, water systems, and emergency communications. Our staffing levels provided by the 2012 Staffing and Operations Levy ($0.47/$1000) were key in reaching this. The 2015 General Obligation Bond replacing our front line fleet was another key piece. Measure 20-278 Staffing & Operations Levy Renewal (Not a New Tax) The District’s Board is seeking renewal of the 2012 Staffing and Operations Levy providing critical funding for staffing. The Levy provides 24/7 fire and EMS services staffing for Cottage Grove and Creswell and is not a new tax. Without the funding provided by the Levy since 2012, the District would be forced to reduce services for fire and EMS by eliminating up to nine (9) firefighter/paramedic positions in Cottage Grove and Creswell. With the Levy we are able to cover three (3) simultaneous ambulance calls or one (1) fire call. Cuts to services would result in longer wait times for ambulances and fire engines where minutes equate to potential loss of life. The District now runs nearly 4000 calls per year with seven (7) full-time career firefighter/ paramedics per day. The Levy costs tax payers $0.47 per $1000 of assessed property value on structures and up to five (5) acres. Even with the Levy, the District still has one of the lowest taxing rates in the County. Currently the District provides fire protection to 132 square miles and ambulance service to over 800 square miles. The District’s permanent taxing rate is only $1.03 per $1,000 of assessed value placing it 23rd out of 24 Lane County fire agencies. The average taxing rate across the County is $2.00 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Please go to the District’s web page at southlanefire. org and our Face Book page for more information on the impacts of this vital funding. If you have an organization or group that would like an impacts presentation by Chief Wooten, please contact our main off at 541.942.4493 during normal working hours Monday-Friday for schedul- ing. 3.5000 3.0000 Levy Rate 2.5000 Average 2.0000 1.5000 1.0000 0.5000 0.0000 Creswell Fire Station The District continues explor- ing options for a new fire station in Creswell and has formed an advisory group to explore ideas for replacing the current station which was built in 1953. Issues with the current station include being seismically unstable, non ADA compliant, narrow short equipment bays, limited access and visibility, and electrical and plumbing limitations. Fire Prevention Programs We continue to bolster and build our community outreach and fire preven- tion programs. The District currently hosts or participates in an average of 1.5 events per month, coordinated by Cpt. Aaron Smith our Community Outreach Coordinator. Some of the events include Breakfast with Santa, Toys for Tots, Movie Night at the Firehouse, Breast Cancer Awareness, Seattle Stair Climb (fights cancer),and Canned Food Drive, Fill the Boot, Teen CERT (Creswell), as well as all of our fire prevention in the schools. 2017 Fire Season The 2017 Fire Season proved quite active considering it was forecast to be an average year. While we did not see a lot of major fire activity within our service area, we did deploy resources to several fires around the State including the Jones Fire, Milli Fire, Chetco Bar Fire, and Eagle Creek Fire. New Fleet Update We were very excited to unveil the new fire suppression fleet at our recent Movie Night at the Firehouse events hosted in Cottage Grove and Creswell. The new ladder truck appears to have stolen the show being 107’ in length. The new fleet will provide enhanced capabilities and crew safety features allowing us to provider safer more efficient service to our customers. Our person- nel will be out and about the communities over the next several months training with the new equipment. Please stop by and say hello when you see them out. The new fleet was made possible by the 2015 General Obligation Bond. Volunteers The District actively uses reserves (volunteers) to supplement and enhance our career workforce. We are always seeking new recruits, and encourage those with a desire to be part of something rewarding, to help serve your community by volunteering as a firefighter or EMT with the District. Recruit classes begin on a rotating basis, with the District providing all training, uni- forms, PPE and equipment. Nationally, and locally the success of volunteerism relies on those willing to help their commu- nity. If you are interested, please go to our web site at www.southlanefire.org for more informa- tion. A testing process will be held soon with a recruit academy following. Thank you, John Wooten Fire Chief
