Baker City Fire Department gets new Type 6 engine from OSFM
By Logan Bagett on Thursday, November 21st, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY — Good news for the brush crews on the Baker City Fire Department. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has provided the department with their new Type 6 wildland engine to be added to their fleet. The new engine comes as part of the Oregon State Fire Marshall Engine Program, which is aimed to boost and modernize Oregon’s firefighting capabilities.
The engine has already been numbered 2482, and the department notes that the new rig will increase their firefighting capabilities within the city, county, and state.
**Photo from the Baker City Fire Department**
Find more information from the OSFM below:
(From the Oregon State Fire Marshal)
Welcome to the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Engine Program that modernizes and boosts Oregon’s firefighting capabilities. Our program focuses on purchasing and strategically deploying cutting-edge firefighting equipment across the state.
Driven by insights from a comprehensive 2021 gap analysis survey, in collaboration with Oregon fire defense boards, our program ensures a meticulous and inclusive approach to enhancing fire response. A diverse committee of fire agencies helped develop the program to ensure a well-rounded perspective.
At the core of this program lies our commitment to improving Oregon’s response to the escalating threat of wildfires. We are dedicated to supporting local response efforts, facilitating regional mutual aid, and effectively managing conflagrations.
Types 3 and 6 engines and tactical tenders form the backbone of our program, designed to assist local agencies in containing fires and protecting our communities. While participation in statewide mobilizations is not mandatory for host agencies, we strongly encourage the use of OSFM apparatus at local and regional levels. Program funding was made possible through Senate Bill 762, Oregon’s wildfire omnibus bill in 2021.
The OSFM proudly announced the Engine Program recipients across Oregon to be provided with critical firefighting resources. Explore the list of 76 local fire agency awardees here.
Applicants went through a thorough review by a committee of members from associations like the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association, and Oregon State Fire Fighters Council. Guided by four key principles, we ensured fair and equitable distribution:
- Statewide Distribution: Prioritizing local initial attack, regional mutual aid, and conflagration needs.
- Infrastructure and Long-Term Maintenance: Providing essential infrastructure for the ongoing protection and maintenance of assets.
- Consideration of Recent Apparatus Awards: Accounting for recent legislative funding for firefighting apparatus.
- Staffing Capability: Ensuring recipient agencies possess the ability to effectively staff the awarded apparatus.
Recipients will engage in a contractual partnership with the OSFM, strengthening local, regional, and state response capacities and fortifying Oregon’s firefighting capabilities.
All apparatus arrive fully equipped in alignment with the 2022 Oregon fire service mobilization plan, tailored for wildland-urban interface scenarios. The equipment (hose, nozzles, etc.) becomes the property of the recipient agency, subject to maintaining the specified equipment according to the mobilization plan. Modifications to the apparatus can be accommodated upon request to meet specific agency needs. Modifications made to apparatus (once approved) will be paid for by the recipient agency. The OSFM Engine Program operates as part of the Response Ready Oregon initiative, dedicated to enhancing capacity and modernizing wildfire response within the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS).
