Structure and wildland fires
Engines carry 500 gallons and a crew of three. When fire runs through grass and timber, a second brush truck and a water tender join before the first crew reports, so a small blaze does not grow while we wait.
Fire, rescue and ambulance · Calder County, Oregon
In an emergency, call 911. Everything else starts here.
Calder County Fire & Rescue answers 24,000 calls a year from nine stations, covering forest, farmland and the river towns in between. This site helps you prepare a go-bag, check today's fire danger, find your nearest station and join the volunteer ranks.
For anything life-threatening, call 911 first. Do not use the website to report an emergency.
Fire danger is HIGH today. Outdoor burning is prohibited countywide until the first soaking rain.Check burn rules
Three kinds of calls, one dispatch desk
Medical emergencies and transport
Paramedics ride on every ambulance and engine. Cardiac arrest calls receive hands-on coaching from dispatch within thirty seconds, and our median response inside the river towns is six minutes.
Dispatch, day and night
Dispatchers track every unit by GPS and send help to your location even if you cannot speak. Texts to 911 work in most of the county, but a voice call is always faster when you can make one.
Last year on the line
- Calls answered
- 24k
- Median response in river towns
- 6 min
- Staffed stations
- 9
- Career and volunteer responders
- 210
If you are told to leave, do these in order
- 01
Take people and pets first
Put children, older relatives and animals in the car with their medication and carriers. Everything else is secondary.
- 02
Grab the go-bag
Keep identification, chargers, a torch, three days of water and a printed list of phone numbers by the door.
- 03
Close doors and windows
Leave lights on, shut every vent and turn off gas at the meter so crews can work in smoke.
- 04
Use the route on the map
Follow the marked evacuation road for your zone and avoid shortcuts that responders may be using.
Stations and typical response time
Times are the median from dispatch to arrival over the past twelve months.
| Station 1 Calder | Town centre and river wards | 6 | 5 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station 2 Millcreek | Industrial park and highway | 4 | 6 min |
| Station 3 Harlow | Farms and forest edge | 3 | 9 min |
| Station 4 Ridgeline | Mountain subdivisions | 3 | 11 min |
| Station 5 Sandy Bar | River recreation area | 2 | 10 min |
Questions neighbours ask
When should I call 911 instead of the non-emergency line?
Whenever there is a fire, a medical emergency or a danger to life. Use the non-emergency line for smoke alarms, open burn questions and lift assist.
Do you charge for ambulance rides?
Transport is billed to insurance, and county residents without coverage can ask for a hardship review that waives the balance.
Can you check my smoke alarms?
Yes. Book a free home visit and a crew will test, replace batteries and fit new alarms for those who need them.
How do I get a burn permit?
Permits are issued only in the low-danger season, online or at any station, and are cancelled automatically on high-risk days.
Headquarters and business office
310 Fir Street, Calder, OR 97801
- Business office Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:30
- Stations staffed 24 hours, every day
- Public tours first Saturday, 10:00 to 12:00
+1 (541) 555-0114