Fire station rebuild receives a boost

EUGENE: At their May 23rd meeting, the Lane County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement to provide $250,000 to the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District. A compelling reason for the move was cited as, “Not having a completed, functional fire protection station that can respond to calls for assistance creates the possibility of significant financial risk to community members whose property and belongings could be damaged in a fire.”

In addition, the board order also noted that not taking action on this item would delay the fire protection station’s rebuilding and ability to respond to calls for assistance which would negatively impact the health and safety of the community.

During the 2021 Legislative session, the Oregon House and Senate leadership each created a special Committee formed to address the recovery needs arising from the Labor Day wildfires of 2020. In particular, the House Special Committee on Wildfire focused on the creation of a comprehensive funding package based on testimony the Committee had received over the course of the session.

The legislature appropriated $150 million statewide to Oregon Housing and Community Services for the 2020 Labor Day fire recovery. Lane County was awarded a grant for $4,120,547.41 from Oregon Housing and Community Services for Holiday Farm Fire Recovery.$250,0000

The new grant will support the reconstruction of a fire station in Blue River where inflationary pressures had increased the total cost of reconstruction.