HISTORY OF APPLEGATE VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT #9
For many years now, Applegate Valley residences have relied on volunteers to help battle fires and provide emergency care. This initial effort was spearheaded by the Applegate Lions Club in 1977/78. Communications were established through CB radios and phone trees.
In May of 1980, the Applegate Lions Volunteer Fire Department was formed. The primary purpose of forming a district was to become eligible for federal excess vehicles and grant funds, to sign cooperative agreements with neighboring fire districts and to lower insurance rates. Ron Yarbrough was hired as the first Fire Chief of Applegate Valley Fire District in 1981.
The first one-room fire station was built as Station 1 at 18489 N. Applegate Road in 1982 and housed a 1000 GPM Pumper. Our first Fire Chief, Ron Yarbrough, and a handful of dedicated volunteers provided service to 136 square miles of residents. The district passed the Insurance Services Office test on 11/30/82 which enabled residents to see a reduction in their insurance. The district leased a small garage next to McKee Bridge in 1983, which became Station #2 and purchased the first fire engine 8501 for $35,000.
Headquarters originally was housed where "The Outpost" was on Upper Applegate Road. After purchasing the property at 1095 Upper Applegate Rd. in 1983, the district constructed the main building and moved the base of operations there.
In 1983/84, the fire district began annexing additional property and acquired 45 additional square miles. The fire district now covers a total area of 181 square miles; ranging from Jacksonville almost to Murphy and south to Applegate Lake.
1987 brought some big changes to the fire district. After voters approved of a 3-year construction levy, the construction began on 3 more stations. The first project was to relocate Station #2 from the garage at McKee, to the current location of 7774 Upper Applegate Rd. A tender bay for Station #1, on N. Applegate Rd. was also planned. The Fire District Board approved $10,000 to start the construction of Station #4, located at 12188 Williams Hwy. and Station #5, at 2170 Hwy. 238, would be built soon after. In 1998 Station #6 was built at 1076 Kubli Rd. The Final station was built in 2008 at 7990 Griffin Lane. Station #7 is unique in that it incorporates an apartment within the station to house a volunteer. These additional stations provided a reduction in insurance for residents. The fire district is made up of seven stations strategically located throughout 181 square miles. With the addition of stations and apparatus brought the need for a Maintenance position and then by 1992 the positions of Operations Chief and District Office Manager were added, bringing the paid staff up to four employees and 49 volunteers.
In 1996, Oregon voter passed Ballot Measure 47, which rolled back property tax rates, and put a 3% annual growth limit on future property tax bills. With this change, the fire district saw its budget reduced by 21% in one year. In November of 1998, Fire District voters approved a 5-Year Operations Levy at a rate of $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which ran from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2004. Applegate voters have since voted to renew the temporary levy, at various rates, 5 additional times. The latest levy, passed in November 2023, carries a rate of $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, and passed with a nearly 3:1 yes/no ratio. These levies account for nearly 40% of the District’s annual budget and are essential in providing staffing and equipment.
Brett Fillis became the district's Fire Chief in 1996. With the turn of the century the district initially hired 2 full time Captains and eventually brought on a third. After 20 years Chief Fillis retired and Mike McLaughlin traded in his Captain helmet at San Bernardino County to be the Fire Chief of Applegate. Chief McLaughlin resigned in October of 2022, at which time Operations Chief Chris Wolfard was appointed as the Interim Fire Chief. Chief Wolfard had spent over 19 years as the fire district’s Operations Chief and was eventually chosen as the District’s permanent Fire Chief beginning August 1st, 2023.
Our present staff consists of 10 full-time and 1 part-time employees, 24 volunteers and 12 student/seasonal firefighters.
In May of 1980, the Applegate Lions Volunteer Fire Department was formed. The primary purpose of forming a district was to become eligible for federal excess vehicles and grant funds, to sign cooperative agreements with neighboring fire districts and to lower insurance rates. Ron Yarbrough was hired as the first Fire Chief of Applegate Valley Fire District in 1981.
The first one-room fire station was built as Station 1 at 18489 N. Applegate Road in 1982 and housed a 1000 GPM Pumper. Our first Fire Chief, Ron Yarbrough, and a handful of dedicated volunteers provided service to 136 square miles of residents. The district passed the Insurance Services Office test on 11/30/82 which enabled residents to see a reduction in their insurance. The district leased a small garage next to McKee Bridge in 1983, which became Station #2 and purchased the first fire engine 8501 for $35,000.
Headquarters originally was housed where "The Outpost" was on Upper Applegate Road. After purchasing the property at 1095 Upper Applegate Rd. in 1983, the district constructed the main building and moved the base of operations there.
In 1983/84, the fire district began annexing additional property and acquired 45 additional square miles. The fire district now covers a total area of 181 square miles; ranging from Jacksonville almost to Murphy and south to Applegate Lake.
1987 brought some big changes to the fire district. After voters approved of a 3-year construction levy, the construction began on 3 more stations. The first project was to relocate Station #2 from the garage at McKee, to the current location of 7774 Upper Applegate Rd. A tender bay for Station #1, on N. Applegate Rd. was also planned. The Fire District Board approved $10,000 to start the construction of Station #4, located at 12188 Williams Hwy. and Station #5, at 2170 Hwy. 238, would be built soon after. In 1998 Station #6 was built at 1076 Kubli Rd. The Final station was built in 2008 at 7990 Griffin Lane. Station #7 is unique in that it incorporates an apartment within the station to house a volunteer. These additional stations provided a reduction in insurance for residents. The fire district is made up of seven stations strategically located throughout 181 square miles. With the addition of stations and apparatus brought the need for a Maintenance position and then by 1992 the positions of Operations Chief and District Office Manager were added, bringing the paid staff up to four employees and 49 volunteers.
In 1996, Oregon voter passed Ballot Measure 47, which rolled back property tax rates, and put a 3% annual growth limit on future property tax bills. With this change, the fire district saw its budget reduced by 21% in one year. In November of 1998, Fire District voters approved a 5-Year Operations Levy at a rate of $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which ran from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2004. Applegate voters have since voted to renew the temporary levy, at various rates, 5 additional times. The latest levy, passed in November 2023, carries a rate of $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, and passed with a nearly 3:1 yes/no ratio. These levies account for nearly 40% of the District’s annual budget and are essential in providing staffing and equipment.
Brett Fillis became the district's Fire Chief in 1996. With the turn of the century the district initially hired 2 full time Captains and eventually brought on a third. After 20 years Chief Fillis retired and Mike McLaughlin traded in his Captain helmet at San Bernardino County to be the Fire Chief of Applegate. Chief McLaughlin resigned in October of 2022, at which time Operations Chief Chris Wolfard was appointed as the Interim Fire Chief. Chief Wolfard had spent over 19 years as the fire district’s Operations Chief and was eventually chosen as the District’s permanent Fire Chief beginning August 1st, 2023.
Our present staff consists of 10 full-time and 1 part-time employees, 24 volunteers and 12 student/seasonal firefighters.
