Fire & EMS  Department Proudly Serving our Community Since 1872

_       _Accredited  __   Agency

The MISSION of the Eugene Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department is to serve                   our community by protecting and preserving life, property, and the environment through                   prevention, education, medical, rescue, and fire suppression services.                     Our VISION is to enhance the quality of life for everyone in our service area by embracing                   their interests, needs, and concerns for a safe and healthy community.

Fire Department Merger: Your Opinion Counts!

The Eugene Fire & EMS Department and the Springfield Fire & Life Safety Department are currently undergoing a consoli-dation of some administrative and support functions as a way to save taxpayer costs and provide more efficient service.  Emergency response, which is already substantially merged, will not change.  We are merging the Office of the Chief, Training Section, Fire Marshal's Office, and Ambulance Billing Section.  If these steps prove successful, a complete merger of the two departments will follow. Your elected officials on the Eugene City Council, as well as Fire & EMS administrators, are interested in your opinion on this matter.  If you have any questions or comments regarding the consolidation, we invite you to e-mail firedept@ci.eugene.or.us or to contact us at 541-682-7118. A merger of two or more fire departments is not unprecedented.  They may take various forms.  The cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, Calif., have combined their fire departments under a Joint Powers Authority.  Check out that department's website and annual report.  Meanwhile, two successful examples of merged fire departments in Oregon are Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (www.tvfr.com) and Clackamas Fire District #1 (www.clackamasfire.com).

Did You Know?   How big is your department?   The Eugene Fire & EMS Department operates from 11 fire stations in the City (including one at the Eugene Airport), and deploys 10 engines (including two “quint”-type hybrid vehicles), two trucks, three ambulances (more during periods of peak demand), and various other special-purpose apparatus.  The department employs 186 sworn firefighters and 32 civilian personnel.  Eugene’s population is approximately 160,000.  During the fiscal year ending 6/30/09, the Fire & EMS Department responded to more than 22,000 calls for service.