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West Valley Fire District, 825 NE Main Street, Willamina, OR (2026)

05/22/2024

West Valley Fire District would like to thank you for your support in the operation levy. Though the results are not certified yet, we are overwhelmed with the support of our voters during the election. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Emergency Services to provide reliable emergency response to our district.

04/29/2024

Hello West Valley Fire District Community! We were unable to access this account for a period of time, but have recently gained access again and wanted to share some of the materials we have been passing out recently. Please see attached informational documents. If you have questions, please comment below and we'd be happy to answer them to the best of our abilities. Thank you!

12/18/2021

Hello all,

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

SW POLK FIRE DISTRICT

Staffing: Last week, SW Polk Fire District began its first academy to train five new line staff. They have been hard at work training in both EMS and Fire. The academy finishes next week, and SW Polk’s, first ever, 24/7 shift coverage begins on December 25th. As part of the academy, the new SW Polk personnel have responded to calls for West Valley Fire District. There will be a swearing in ceremony of the new hires prior to the regular board meeting on January 13th. We are very proud of the skills they have demonstrated and all they have accomplished the past two weeks!

Stations: Prior to the academy, staff were hard at work outfitting Rickreall Station. They installed gear grids, OSHA safety stations, hose reel plumbing, and truck washing stations. In addition, lockers were purchased, delivered, and installed at Salt Creek Station. A big thank you to Zach Leigh and Jordan Davis for all their hard work.

Ambulance: SW Polk has received all the required OHA licenses to begin running an ambulance. Once Salt Creek station has 24/7 staff and our billing ordinance has been approved, they will be able to assist on any medical calls with their own SW Polk ambulance.

Fire Board: The SW Polk Fire Board will be holding a public hearing on a new billing ordinance that will allow SW Polk to recoup costs on ambulance calls. Taxes are only designed to cover fire response, so this is a necessary next step in starting ambulance service. Two hearings will be held, one on December 20th and the other on December 27th. The drafted billing ordinance may be found on our website at swpolkfd.org.

WEST VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT

Staffing: West Valley Fire District received its final resignation the first week of December. This leaves West Valley with no paid staff.

Fire Board: They voted to sign a contract with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR) on December 9th, which was in turn signed and accepted by CTGR. The short-term Stakeholder Committee brought forth recommendations to the board to hire an interim Fire Chief and a contractor to assist with bill pay. Board President Chris Greenhill resigned his position at this meeting. The board formed subcommittees to research both options. At their December 16th meeting, the board voted to have Directors Mike Alger and Rick Mishler negotiate a contract with a potential interim Fire Chief. Sheridan Fire District has submitted a contract to the West Valley Fire Board for review. The board voted to table the Sheridan contract, contingent upon a review by their attorney.

Thanks,

Fred

11/27/2021

11/25/2021 – West Valley Fire District was dispatched to a vehicle fire on Bible Creek Road at 12:36pm on Thursday. Crews arrived on scene to a vehicle fully involved and extinguished the fire. No other vehicles or vegetation was involved. There were no injuries reported. West Valley would like to thank SW Polk Fire District for providing the staff to crew Engine 181 on this incident

11/27/2021

SW POLK FIRE DISTRICT

The SW Polk Board met on November 22nd and discussion included approval of the October financials, approval to hire additional staffing to provide 24-hour coverage for both fire and emergency medical services, directing staff to move toward our own Civil Service Commission, and directing staff to pursue an electronic bill pay system through the District’s banking institute. The next regular board meeting will be held on December 9th at the Salt Creek Station.

SW ambulance:
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) performed their site visit for the SW Polk Fire District agency and ambulance licensure. OHA has provided SW Polk with their agency licensure to operate an ambulance. Staff provided the required materials and is expecting to receive our ambulance vehicle licensure shortly. Since the Board has given direction to hire more staff, administration is preparing an entry level academy for training. At the end of the academy, SW Polk will transition to 24-hour coverage by two career staff for the first time in their history. This denotes another huge accomplishment in a multiple-year series of accomplishments, including, three new stations, three new engine/tenders, 12-hour career staffing and much more.

Stations:
The District headquarters are located at Salt Creek Station. Staff continue setting up all three new stations to be fully operational. They began work on spreading gravel at Salt Creek Station in preparation for the training grounds. The rock was spread to receive the Conex container boxes that will be placed over the next couple weeks. These container boxes will be developed into a training facility for our personnel and neighboring fire personnel to use. This facility is being funded by a Leary Foundation Grant. Staff also placed round river rock for landscaping. A vendor also wired in the self-contained breathing apparatus compressor and a plug for the sleeping trailer at Salt Creek.

WEST VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT

The Stakeholder committee met on November 17th to discuss ideas for the future of West Valley Fire District. They developed a subcommittee of members to draw up proposed terms for contracts with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Emergency Services (CTGR) and Sheridan Fire District. The West Valley Board of Directors reviewed the proposed terms at their meeting on November 18th. After some adjustments, the Fire Board voted to submit the terms to the other agencies for their consideration. If they accept, official contracts will be drawn. The next West Valley Fire District meeting is scheduled for 6pm on Nov. 30th at the Willamina Station. The Stakeholder committee will meet next on Dec. 1st at 5:30pm at the Willamina station.

Staffing:
West Valley Fire District has two remaining employees, both Firefighter/EMT’s. SW Polk continues to allow West Valley the use of their employees in attempt to provide some ambulance coverage. West Valley, without any Firefighter/Paramedics that are required to operate an ambulance, is solely relying on SW Polk for staffing and their mutual aid neighbors for ambulance services. There are several factors that have affected staffing at West Valley, including uncertain direction from the board of directors and relatively low wages. Additionally, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have established their own Fire and EMS department and hired many of the West Valley staff. SW Polk continues to allow West Valley the use of their employees to provide enhanced coverage compared to what they could do on their own.

WV Ambulance:
The new West Valley ambulance continues to be put together by vendors and staff.

Thanks,

Fred

11/25/2021

Good morning chefs! Let's knock this dinner service out of the park. Remember, fire safety, that's the secret ingredient! 😁

11/25/2021

11/24/2021 - West Valley Fire District was dispatched to a structure fire on Hill Drive in Willamina at 1:54pm on Wednesday. Upon arrival, units found an approximately 10 by 20 foot shed, fully involved. Crews quickly attacked the fire and it was under control in about 15 minutes. Crews mopped up the fire and the cause is currently under investigation. Homeowners were home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries reported. Mutual aid was provided by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Department of Emergency Services, Sheridan, and SW Polk Fire Districts.

https://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=6649

11/16/2021

*update* the stakeholder meeting is Wednesday the 17th at 5:30pm

Hello all,

Staffing:
I accepted yet another resignation for West Valley. This employee is the last of the original twelve employees for West Valley. They now have two remaining employees, both are Firefighter/EMT’s. SW Polk continues to allow West Valley the use of their employees in an attempt to provide some ambulance staff coverage. West Valley, without any Firefighter/Paramedics that are required to operate an ambulance, is solely relying on SW Polk for staffing and their mutual aid neighbors for ambulance services.

West Valley:
The West Valley Fire Board met on November 9th to discuss their ASA response letter to the Polk and Yamhill County Board of Commissioners. The board voted to hand deliver the letters to both Boards of Commissioners on Friday the 12th, along with an Ambulance Service Area report. Discussion was also held regarding potential Intergovernmental Agreements with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Emergency Services and Sheridan Fire District. The board voted unanimously to contract with Grand Ronde Emergency Services and Sheridan to share the West Valley ASA on a temporary basis. They also voted to establish a Stakeholder committee of surrounding community members to prepare a plan for the District, including representatives from the West Valley Fire Board, City of Willamina, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Sheridan Fire District, SW Polk Fire District, Hampton Lumber, the West Valley Fire District service area, and the community of Sheridan. These stakeholder committee meetings will be hosted virtually, with the first one being Tuesday November 16th at 5:30PM. A special board meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, November 18th at the Willamina Station.

West Valley Ambulance:
The new West Valley ambulance continues to be put together by vendors and staff. The Radios were installed last week, while staff installed other equipment and supplies. A special thank you to Firefighter/Paramedic Suzy Ryan, she has done an amazing job of getting this unit ready for response.

SW Polk:
The SW Polk Board met on November 8th and discussion included the joint Civil Service Commission, the Chief’s performance review, and a potential levy. The board voted to approve an updated Fire Chief contract with Chief Fred Hertel. The next regular board meeting will be held on December 9th at the Salt Creek Station.
SW Polk has filed the necessary documents for the ambulance license process and their ambulance service licensure. OHA inspected the facility and ambulance on Friday, November 12th. OHA will review the materials staff provided and is expected to make a decision on licensure shortly. Another thank you to Suzy Ryan for all her hard work in establishing all thing emergency medical related.

Staff continue to set up the three new stations for operations. The district headquarters are located in the Salt Creek station and you can often find our administrative staff there. Staff have installed counters, set up computers, storage racks, and the apparatus wash areas last week. This week they will be working on turnout racks, turnout washers, SCBA compressors, and much more. A special thank you to Firefighter/EMT Jordan Davis and temporary Battalion Chief Zach Leigh.

Fred Hertel
Fire Chief
SW Polk Fire District
971-219-2614

11/03/2021

Hello all,

Staffing:
It is with great sadness that I accepted one additional letter of resignation since my last weekly email. West Valley Fire District had eleven of their twelve employees resign since early September. Staff has been able to replace the three needed Firefighter/EMT’s but has been unable to replace the needed two Firefighter/Paramedics. Ambulance service requires a continuous staffing of two personnel, with at least one being a Firefighter Paramedic. SW Polk’s Firefighter/Paramedics have been filling in the vacancies for West Valley as much as possible. Over a thirty-day period, West Valley has been unstaffed six days, staffed with a single quick response person13.5 days, and has been fully staffed with two persons 11.5 days. West Valley Fire District wishes to extend their gratitude to SW Polk for staffing their service capabilities and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Fire & Emergency Services Department and Sheridan Fire District for coverage.

Halloween:
SW Polk and West Valley Fire Districts hosted drive through Halloween events at the Rickreall, Salt Creek, and Willamina fire stations. Rickreall received about 30 and Salt Creek about 40 trick or treaters. The Willamina Station received about 50 trick or treaters. Thank you to the volunteers and staff for their many hours put into these events.

West Valley:
West Valley has received the new ambulance. Staff showed it off at the Willamina High School's last home football game. It is getting radios and decals installed next week. Staff continues to prepare the ambulance for use and is submitting documents to Oregon Health Authority to get it licensed.

West Valley received a letter from the Polk and Yamhill County Commissioners asking for the Board of Directors to describe their future direction on providing ambulance services within the West Valley ambulance service area. The Board had one meeting on this topic last week and on November 2nd.

On Monday, November 1st, West Valley Fire District received an emergency incident for a structure fire. Firefighter/EMT, Ian Mansfield, was the lone responder from West Valley Fire District. Grand Ronde Emergency Services provided an engine and water tender while Sheridan provided an engine with one person.

Staff is filing the latest round of Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) documents.

SW Polk:
SW Polk has filed the necessary documents for the ambulance license process and their ambulance service licensure. Staff continues the setup process for ambulance service with the goal of providing enhanced services to citizens in rural areas.

SW Polk has received certificates of occupancy for all three new fire stations and is continuing the process of preparing the stations. SW Polk will be performing grand opening ceremonies at each station as they come fully operational.

Thanks for all your support.

Fred

Fred Hertel
Fire Chief

10/30/2021

Come trick or treat at Willamina, Rickreall, and Salt Creek stations!

West Valley Fire District

05/22/2024

04/29/2024

12/18/2021

11/27/2021

11/27/2021

11/25/2021

11/25/2021

11/16/2021

11/03/2021

10/30/2021

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