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Q: Is Harrisburg Fire Rescue part of Harrisburg City Government?
A: No. Harrisburg Fire Rescue is not
part of city government. We are an independent group with its own board of directors and operating budget.
Q: How large is Harrisburg Fire Rescue (area
that service is provided)?
A: Harrisburg Fire Rescue provides service to an 86 square mile district and also provides assistance when it
can to the neighboring agencies. We generally work with and receive assistance from Junction City, Coburg, Halsey, Brownsville,
Monroe, and Oregon Department of Forestry. We have responded as far and received assistance from Tangent, Albany, Corvallis,
Lane Fire Authority, and Eugene/Springfield. This does not include when we might be available to participate with the Oregon
State Fire Marshal,s Office and send resources out to other areas of the state.
Q: What services does Harrisburg Fire Rescue provide?
A: Harrisburg Fire Rescue provides first response
non transporting medical services, rescue extrication, swift water rescue, initial hazardous material response, fire suppression
response for structure, vehicle, wildfire, initial specialized rescue for confined space and high angle rope, air monitoring
for confined space entry, public assistance for lifting and other various needs, public education/fire prevention for the
schools and community and community first aid and CPR classes.
Q: Why doesn't Harrisburg Fire Rescue provide medical transport?
A: The primary reason is cost; a
transport agency must carry additional insurance and have at least one paramedic on board for transport purposes. Due to these
requirements our budget does not allow us to provide these services.
Q: What is staffing like for Harrisburg Fire Rescue?
A: Currently Harrisburg Fire Rescue has a full time Chief, Training
Officer, Firefighter and one part time employee. The most important part of Harrisburg Fire Rescue is the volunteer staff.
We currently have 23 volunteers that provide excellent service to the community of Harrisburg. The volunteers do not
receive any stipend or pay for their services they give to the community.
Q: What is the average amount of time a volunteer spends a week with Harrisburg
Fire Rescue?
A: Weekly
fire and EMS drills average 2-3 hours per week. Response to incidents could be as little as 1 up to 10 hours a week.
Q: What training is required before someone can respond to a 911 call?
A: New firefighter recruits
must complete a Firefighter 1 academy approximately 90 hours before they can respond on calls. An EMT class is an additional
150 hours and the cost is approximately $2000.00
Q: What is the average response time for Harrisburg Fire Rescue?
A: From the time you call 911 to
the time that members are notified and reach the station to respond is an average of 5 minutes or less during the day time.
In the evening and night time hours that increases upwards to an average of 7 minutes or more. This time counts from the time
a 911 dispatcher answers your call to 911 to the time the first unit from our station goes in service to respond. This does
not count the time it takes for travel from the station to your location.
Q: What is the average number of responses for Harrisburg Fire Rescue?
A: Over the last five years, Harrisburg Fire Rescue has responded to an average of 432 incidents. In 2016 Harrisburg
responded to a record 557 incidents which surpassed the 2009 record of 467.
Q: How is Harrisburg Fire Rescue currently funded?
A: Harrisburg Fire Rescue has a
current tax rate of $1.129 per $1,000 assessed value. The rate is paid for by an individual's regular taxes that reside
or own property within the District. This is not an existing bond or operations levy. This funding rate has been fixed since
the 1990's.
Q: In the 1990's why did the City Fire Department dissolve and the Rural Fire Protection District take
over instead of the City Fire Department taking the lead role in taking over the Rural Fire District?
A: With the Rural Fire Protection
District in place, the City of Harrisburg and its half of the fire department would have had to incorporate the total of 86
square mile protection District into the city limits which the City did not have the funding, infrastructure, or support to
do.
Q: How much does it cost for the volunteers if they receive no pay or stipend for responding
on calls?
A: Even
though the volunteers receive no pay or stipend, the cost of required training, protective equipment and insurance cost approximately
$150.00/month per volunteer or approximately $42,000 per year.
Q: Besides taxes, is there other funding that Harrisburg Fire Rescue receive?
A: Harrisburg Fire Rescue does not
receive any major annual revenue from the State or Federal Government. The county distributes annual taxes and we receive
a small amount of donations each year.
Q:
I pay for a Fire Med membership and pay into medicare. Does any of that money go to Harrisburg Fire Rescue?
A: Harrisburg fire Rescue like other
EMS providing agencies that do not transport patients doesn't receive any funding from medicare, medicaid, or Fire Med.
Q: How does Harrisburg
Fire Rescue's tax rate compare to other fire Districts in Linn County?
A: There are a total of 17 fire Districts or protection associations
that have assessed rate in Linn County. Of those districts and associations, the average tax rate is $1.75 per $1,000 assessed
according to public record.
Q:
How does Harrisburg Fire Rescue's tax rate compare to other fire Districts in Lane County?
A: There are a total of 28 fire Districts or protection
associations that have assessed rates in Lane County. They have an average assessed rate of $1.85 per $1,000 assessed according
to public record.
If
you have additional questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us at the fire station. You can
also find us on facebook.
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