Scio Fire District

09/07/2026

First responders are the guardians of our communities, standing vigilant while the nation rests. On Labor Day, we extend our deepest gratitude to the police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers who remain on the front lines so others can enjoy their hard-earned peace.

09/06/2026

Many of you were woken this morning around 3:30am because of the lightning and thunder that came rolling through the area. A resident on Robinson Drive called us because lightning had struck near his house and knocked out the power. It was pouring rain, pitch black outside, and he could smell smoke. Fearing his house was on fire, he evacuated and called 911. Volunteers with the Scio Fire District responded and helped the owner locate the strike. Unfortunately, two cedar trees that are at least 100 years old were struck and destroyed. The lightning strike was so power that it blew a transformer that is over 200’ away from the strike. Fortunately, the resident and his family are fine.

09/04/2026

At around midnight on the night of Wednesday, September 2nd, a small pickup truck driven by a local Scio resident left the roadway on Shelburn Drive, launched off of a bridge abutment, and landed in a dry creek bed. Upon impact, the driver's door opened and the driver fell out of the vehicle. The male driver was badly injured, unable to move, and unable to summon help. The vehicle was hidden by brush and trees and was not seen by the public for several hours.

The next morning, around 9 hours later, a man who lives nearby was out for a walk and came across the accident. He could see the male from his vantage point on the bridge but was unable to get to him. He called 911 and relayed to the dispatchers that the male was badly injured.

The Linn County 911 dispatch center received the 911 call and dispatched the Scio Fire District and paramedics from Santiam Ambulance. Upon hearing the patient's condition and precarious position of the vehicle, the Scio Fire Chief requested Stayton Fire respond mutual aid for manpower.

Upon reaching the patient, firefighters found that he was indeed badly injured and freezing cold, having laid next to his truck for 9 hours overnight in the rain. Firefighters and paramedics worked together to place the patient in a Stokes litter and carry him out of the dry creek bed. Once removed from the creek bed, he was placed in a waiting ambulance and rushed to Salem Hospital. His current condition is unknown.

The Scio Fire District would like to thank our response partners at the Stayton Fire District and Santiam Ambulance for their help.

09/03/2026

The burn ban that was put into place on August 3rd has been lifted thanks to the rain and cooler temperatures. But this doesn't mean backyard burning is open. When we establish a burn ban outside of burn season, it prohibits fire pits (campfires), charcoal BBQs, and agricultural burning. Now that the burn ban has been lifted, those are now allowed again. Backyard burning (the burning of piles of branches, leaves, and other organic material) will remain closed until October 1st.

There is a portion of our district that is also covered by the Oregon Department of Forestry. ODF has stricter rules on what you can and can't do with regard to the use of fire, lawnmowers, chainsaws, etc. If you live within ODF's boundaries, please check with them to see what the current restrictions are.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DYmiHJqGQ/

For general questions about burning, please check our website at https://www.sciofire.org/burn-questions

Effective immediately, the Linn County Fire Defense Board is lifting the County wide burn ban in regard to recreation and agricultural burning.

If you reside within Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Protection, please contact ODF South Cascade District Sweet Home Unit for updated fire restrictions or follow ODF South Cascade District page for updated fire information. Debris burning "including burn barrels and debris piles”, is still prohibited throughout Linn County.

Sweet Home Fire District
Harrisburg Fire & Rescue
Albany Fire Department
Halsey Fire
Scio Fire District
Lebanon Fire District
Brownsville Rural Fire District
Tangent Fire District
Oregon Department of Forestry - West Oregon District

09/01/2026

At around 6pm on Sunday night, the Linn County 911 dispatch center received a call from a resident near the intersection of Loma Drive and Myers Pl. stating that their lawn tractor had malfunctioned and started a fire in a dry grass field behind their house. The Scio Fire District was dispatched immediately and volunteers from Station 91 in Scio and Station 92 in Crabtree responded. The weekend duty officer arrived first and found that the fire was approximately a half-acre in size, burning in tall, dry grass, and was moving uphill fast. The duty officer, recognizing the rapid spread of fire and the abundant fuel uphill, called for a second alarm. This brought in resources from Jefferson, Stayton, and Lyons.

There was no easy access to the field by vehicle, so firefighters began stretching hose from the road. Firefighters laid 300 feet of hose and were able to get in front of the fire and slow its progression towards a large stand of trees. Additional hose lines were stretched to assist with the firefight. Meanwhile, a crew cut through a neighbor's fence and were able to get a brush truck into the field. Crews worked quickly to stop the fire's spread and save the trees.

An investigation into the cause was conducted. The homeowner stated that they were driving the lawn tractor when it began smoking under the hood. They retrieved a fire extinguisher but by the time they attempted to use it, the fire was out of control.

There were no injuries.

We would like to thank our mutual aid partners for help:


Lyons Rural Fire District
Stayton Fire District
Jefferson Fire District

08/31/2026

Today is the first day of school for most elementary, middle school, and 9th graders at the high school. Please slow down and watch for kiddos.

08/30/2026

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Scio local and former Scio volunteer firefighter David Taylor. Please keep the Taylor family in your prayers.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GVnGvuA19/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mourning federal wildlife officer David Taylor, 38 of Scio, Oregon, who is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents threatened by the Railroad South Fire.

Officer Taylor was going door to door alongside local emergency crews helping families get to safety. His last contact with dispatch came while he was helping a family evacuate their home. Evidence recovered from a structure where he was working to help a resident escape indicates that he died during the evacuation effort. Formal identification remains pending with the medical examiner.

Everything we know about David's actions reflects extraordinary courage, selflessness and devotion to duty.

Our hearts are with his family, friends, fellow officers and all who served alongside him. We will never forget his service.

08/09/2026

The 47th annual Covered Bridge Bike Ride, sponsored by the Mid Valley Bike Club, is being held in the area today. There are 4 routes that vary in length and include the surrounding area. Please watch out for bikers.

08/08/2026

There is a serious collision at Hwy 226 at Richardson’s Gap. Both roads will be closed for an extended period of time.

08/07/2026

Congrats to Matt Montgomery for receiving his NFPA Firefighter 2 certification. We appreciate your dedication to the citizens of Scio, Crabtree, and Bilyeu Den.