Grant helps Sisters hire new firefighter

Growth in the area is resulting in increasing 911 call volume and increased demand for prevention services. To help meet that demand, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District will hire one Firefighter/EMT/ Wildfire Risk Reduction employee who will work five days a week during times of peak 911 call demand.

The position is one of 14 in Central Oregon and 53 across the state funded through $13.5 million in Oregon Fire Service Capacity grants announced on May 9.

According to the Fire District, recruitment efforts will begin shortly with the goal of having the new position filled prior to the start of fire season.

Sisters Fire Chief Roger Johnson said, “This grant will greatly increase our capacity to both prevent fires from occurring, and to respond to fires once they start.”

In addition to work as a certified firefighter/EMT, the new employee will also lead community wildfire risk reduction efforts.

The OSFM Capacity Grant is a one-time investment in response capacity across the state. Here in Sisters, it provides funding for three years with the District contributing 10 percent of the employee costs in year one, 25 percent in year two, and 50 percent in the third year of the grant. The District will pay the full cost of the employee after the three-year grant period expires. In total, the amount of the award to the District is $255,000 over the three-year period.