Oregon Fire Protection District seeks variance to expand station

OREGON – The Oregon Fire Protection District is seeking a variance to expand its fire station that currently sits in the city’s River Front Commercial District.

The existing station, located at 100 Washington St., is on the west bank of the Rock River next to the Route 64 bridge on the north side of the state highway.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, before the regular meeting of the Oregon Plan Commission. The Plan Commission makes recommendations to the Oregon City Council, which will decide to either grant or deny the request. The Jan. 21 meeting will be held at City Hall, 115 N. Third St.

Trustees of the Oregon Fire Protection District announced plans for the $4.1 million renovation and expansion of the current fire station last week.

According to a news release, the project is slated to begin in late spring “pending city approval and financing.”

Fire district officials said the project “will significantly enhance the district’s capabilities without requiring any additional property tax levy.”

The existing station was built in 1984 by Charles Mongan for what was then an all-volunteer fire department.

“The current station has seen a decline in volunteers over time,” according to the release. “In 2014, the district began providing ambulance services, transitioning to a combination department of paid full-time and volunteer staff. The district presently employs nine full-time members working in three shifts, with three members per shift. These shifts follow a 24-hour on, 48-hour off schedule. The station was not designed with living space, so the district has converted main floor office space into sleeping rooms.

“Over the last 40 years, fire apparatus has increased in both height and length, and the current space does not meet the needs of modern apparatus. Two separate buildings are used to house equipment. The new addition will consolidate these into one, increasing efficiency and decreasing response times when seconds count, which can make a difference in saving lives and property.”

To consolidate resources, the fire district sold the Chana Fire Station that the Canfield family donated to the district. The district also plans to sell the former ambulance building on Madison Street that was donated to the fire district by Oregon Ambulance Services, the former ambulance service.

“These donations have served the district well over the years, but the time has come to expand and consolidate all equipment into one station from which the district responds to all emergency calls. The yearly call volume exceeds 1,200, mostly ambulance calls, which averages three per day. This high demand necessitates the expansion to accommodate two advanced life support ambulances and provide housing for the full-time firefighter/paramedics,” according to the release.

The expansion will almost double the size of the existing station and feature an engineered metal frame structure with a brick front designed to seamlessly integrate with the current building. Key elements of the project include four additional apparatus bays, a new office area, and living and sleeping quarters for the dedicated firefighter/paramedics.

“Volunteers remain vital contributors to the Oregon Fire Protection District team, and the Oregon Fire Protection District encourages interested individuals to apply,” according to the release.

The project requires approval of a variance from the Oregon City Council because the existing station and property owned around the station are inside the city’s River Front Commercial District, which was created in 2016.

“Under this code, the current use [fire station] and the proposed addition to the structure will be considered nonconforming in the event of a major reconstruction of the station,” according to the release. “Therefore, the district will seek a variance for special use as well as allowance of a nonconforming addition.”

Trustees governing the Oregon Fire Protection District are President Steven Carr, Treasurer Lora Stevens McKee and Secretary Rich Rhoads. Trustees are appointed by the Ogle County Board and serve three-year terms.

Michael Knoup is Oregon’s fire chief.