Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District

05/26/2026

The best way to protect your peace of mind is to pack a Go-Bag now, while things are calm.

Think of it as your 72-hour survival kit. Here is exactly what needs to go in it:

🟢 THE ESSENTIALS

Water & Food: One gallon of water per person, per day, plus easy, non-perishable snacks.

Health: A 7-day supply of your critical prescription medications and a basic first-aid kit.

Power: A flashlight, extra batteries, and portable phone chargers (keep them charged!).

Hygiene: Wet wipes, travel-size soap, toothbrushes, and necessary sanitation items.

📄 THE "5 P’s" (What to grab right before you walk out the door):

People (and pets! Make sure you have leashes, crates, and pet food ready).

Prescriptions (pills, vitamins, and medical devices).

Papers (hard copies of IDs, passports, insurance policies, and birth certificates).

Personal Needs (keys, wallets, and sturdy clothes/shoes).

Priceless Items (photos, hard drives, or small family heirlooms).

Put your Go-Bag near an exit or in your vehicle's trunk. If you never have to use it, great! But if you do, you’ll thank your past self for taking 20 minutes to pack it.

To get a starter kit, visit the OSH Extensions booth at Mary Cole Days on June 13th. They will be handing them out while supplies last.

05/23/2026

Burn Season is Closing

May 31st is the last day for open burning in our area.

As we move into warmer and drier conditions, we encourage everyone to avoid burning if possible to help reduce wildfire risk and keep our community safe.

Thank you for doing your part and helping us protect the Mohawk Valley community!

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out or check out LRAPA’s Website below.

https://www.lrapa-or.gov/air-quality-protection/burning-overview/outdoor-burning/

05/22/2026

🌲🔥 TRAINING NIGHT: Wildland Fire & Structural Protection 🔥🌲

Tonight, the Mohawk Valley Fire District came together to hone our skills in wildland firefighting and structural protection.

Our crews spent the evening training on progressive hose lays and practicing rapid-attack tactics to quickly contain a wildland fire. The goal? To gain fast control of a wildfire while simultaneously defending and protecting structures in its path.

While tonight was a simulated incident, these hands-on training scenarios are absolutely invaluable for keeping our skills sharp, our communication seamless, and our communities safe.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers and personnel who came out to put in the work tonight! 🧑‍🚒💪

05/21/2026

🚨 ATV Rescue in Johnson Creek Area 🚨

Shortly after 4:00 PM, Mohawk Valley Fire responded to an ATV rollover on BLM land. The patient was unaware of their presence location and dealing with spotty cell service, making it impossible to keep them on the phone.

Our crews immediately launched a ground search starting from the patient's home, tracking intermittent cell pings. Life Flight was requested due to the possible nature of the injuries and assisted with an aerial search before needing to depart for refueling. With the Life Flight helicopter in the air drone operations were unable to be used.

Utilizing command vehicles, side-by-sides, and responders on foot, our teams successfully located the patient.

She was safely extracted and transferred to a waiting ambulance for transport to the hospital.

Lane County Search and Rescue was requested but later stood down when the patient was located.

Great work by all crews under challenging conditions, and we wish the patient a speedy recovery! 🙏🚒

05/20/2026

🚒 Community First!

We spent a fantastic afternoon with the wonderful students at the Marcola School District for their annual Safety Day!

Our team had a blast showing the kids the equipment, technology, and resources the Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District uses every day to keep our community safe. We also got to answer some excellent questions about fire safety and prevention—we might have some future firefighters in the making! 👨‍🚒👩‍🚒

We are always incredibly grateful for the opportunity to interact with the community we love so much to serve. Thank you for having us, Marcola School District! 👋✨

Thank you to Eugene Springfield Fire for providing an ambulance for the students to check out and learn about.

05/18/2026

🌲 SUCCESSFUL NIGHTTIME RESCUE AT SHOTGUN RECREATIONAL SITE 🌲

Late last night, Mohawk Fire was dispatched to a reported Motor Vehicle Accident on Trail 3 at the Shotgun Recreational Site. A family member had received a text stating that their loved ones were off the road, but with very limited information other than that they were somewhere in the area of Trail 3.

Because of the massive, rugged search area and nighttime conditions, Mohawk Fire deployed multiple responders on foot alongside two critical pieces of specialized equipment recently acquired by the District:

🛸 Thermal Drone Operations: Crews deployed our UAS (drone), which was awarded to the District late last year through an Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Spire Grant. The drone scanned the dense area using thermal imaging and later provided crucial overhead scene lighting for the ground crews.

🚜 Off-Road Capabilities: Ground crews successfully located the vehicle about a mile in from the main road. To safely extract the family, we deployed our side-by-side (UTV), acquired through a partnership with the Lane County Sheriff's Office.

All four occupants were thankfully uninjured. They were loaded into the UTV, brought out to the main road to get warm, and our crews assisted them in coordinating a safe ride home. (The truck will remain on-site until it can be recovered).

This incident is a prime example of how modern equipment and proactive training make these complex operations quicker, safer, and more efficient for both our community members and our first responders.

Great job to all the crews who responded last night! 🚒👏

05/18/2026

McKenzie Fire has responded to 3 structure fires in our district in the last month to provide assistance and coverage. Our communities and responders are safer with these great partnerships.

🚨 Incident Update – Leaburg Structure Fire 🚨

Around 6:00 PM on Sunday, May 17, 2026, McKenzie Fire & Rescue responded to a report of smoke coming from a structure in Leaburg.

Upon arrival, crews observed smoke coming from the roof and attic space of a manufactured home, with flames beginning to show through the roof. Firefighters quickly located a significant amount of fire at the rear of the residence and began an aggressive extinguishment effort.

With vehicles in the driveway, it was unclear if the home was occupied. However, Lane County Sheriff’s Office was quickly able to make contact with the homeowner, confirming the residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Sadly, one dog perished in the incident, and two cats remain missing. Our thoughts are with the homeowner during this difficult time.

Multiple agencies responded, including:
• Eugene Springfield Fire
• Upper Mckenzie Rural Fire Protection District
• Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District

Incidents like this highlight the strength and importance of our automatic and mutual aid agreements. The rapid, coordinated response from all agencies involved is a testament to those partnerships.

🙏 Thank you to all responding crews for your dedication and teamwork.

05/14/2026

Protecting your home and family starts with knowing the signs. When wildfire smoke is on the horizon, do you know what the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) evacuation levels actually mean? 🌲🔥

Here is a quick breakdown of the "Ready, Set, Go!" system so you can act fast when every second counts.

🟢 LEVEL 1: BE READY
"Prepare for potential evacuation."

What it means: There is a fire or incident in your area. You should be aware of the danger and stay tuned to local news and emergency alerts.

What to do: Pack your "Go Bag" (meds, docs, chargers). If you have pets or livestock, or if you need extra time to move (seniors, people with disabilities), consider leaving now.

🟡 LEVEL 2: BE SET
"Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice."

What it means: Significant danger is nearby. Conditions can change rapidly, and this might be the only notice you get.

What to do: Load your vehicle. Inform your family of where you are going. You should be ready to walk out the door the instant a Level 3 is called—or better yet, leave now to stay ahead of the traffic and smoke.

🔴 LEVEL 3: GO NOW!
"Leave immediately! Extreme danger."

What it means: The threat is imminent. It is unsafe to stay, and emergency responders may not be able to help you if you remain.

What to do: Drop everything and go. Do not stop to gather belongings or try to protect your home. Follow designated evacuation routes and do not return until officials say it is safe.

💡 Pro-Tips for Fire Season:
Don't wait for a knock: If you feel unsafe, leave! You don't need an official order to relocate to a safer area.

Sign up for alerts: Make sure your phone is registered with your local county’s emergency alert system.

The 5 P's: Keep these ready: People, Pets, Pills, Photos, and Papers (ID/Insurance).

Stay safe, stay informed, and share this with your neighbors! 🛡️

05/13/2026

The Mary Cole Celebration is approaching fast. The Firefighters Auction and raffle will be held at the school, along with the firefighters' breakfast that morning. You may purchase your raffle tickets now from any member of the district of the main fire station. We still have room in the parade, and entries will be accepted until Friday, June 5th. You can submitt and entry at:

The Mohawk Valley RFD will be coordinating the Mary Cole Parade. Entries will start staging at 9 am and need to be in place by 10:30 am at the latest…

05/12/2026

Today was another busy day for your Mohawk Valley Firefighters. Just after 10:30 am the Fire District was dispatched to a shop fire. Crews quickly responded with the first arriving engine on scene in about 6 mins and water on the fire in under 8 mins. The fire was brought under control in less then 30 mins. MVRFD responded with 2 engines, 4 water tenders, 1 brush, and a rescue unit. All together MVRFD had 13 personnel on scene.

We would like to thank our mutual aid partners at McKenzie Fire and Rescue for providing an additional engine and Coburg Fire District for providing an additional water tender.

Firefighters put out a large barn fire on a Lane County property this morning.