McKenzie Fire and Rescue

http://ths.sps.lane.edu http://sps.lane.edu

 

The McKenzie Fire District was organized in 1959 and covered thirteen square miles. Today there are five stations between Thurston hills and Eagle Rock. It's a volunteer association that employs five paid employees and over sixty volunteers. There are many organizations associated with the department. These include the Boosters, Board of Directors, and Public education.

The Boosters are a separate group of people who support the department through donations and supplying food at emergencies. The Board of Directors makes the decisions concerning department matters. They put the tax dollars in funds and hire employees. Public educators are headed by one paid employee and run by volunteers who educate the public by going around to schools and holding CPR classes

The first station, built in 1959, was located in Walterville. The first engine was purchased two years later. For the next forty years they built four more stations and purchased over ten fire engines.

The McKenzie Fire and Rescue receives all of its funding from annual taxes and donations. A certain percentage is taxed for every 1,000 dollars of what your property is worth. The tax base has been raised to supply the department with adequate equipment. The Board of Directors establishes the budget and places the money in each designated apparatus fund.

The department's paid employees are the Chief, Assistant Chief, Training Officer, Maintenance, and Administrative Assistant. The current acting chief, Dana Burwell, has been assistant chief since 1982 but recently took over with the retirement of Terry Jack in April of 1999. Dale Ledyard is Assistant Chief and the training officer. Maintenance is headed by Randy Koozer who is in charge of the upkeep of all stations and apparatus. Pat Cane is the administrative assistant for the department; she does all the office work and keeps the records.

The visions for the future of the department are focused on the new special option levy on the ballot this year. The money earned from this would go toward capital improvements which would include replacement and improvements on fire engines, radios, and remodeling. The levy would be in effect for the next ten years, and would also go to hiring more paid employees.