The Woodburn Fire District is excited to announce the historic expansion of its firefighting force, thanks to a three-year, $4,646,088 grant awarded through FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. This funding will allow the district to hire eight additional firefighters, ensuring two fully staffed engine companies are available 24/7 to serve the growing community.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends a staffing ratio of one firefighter per 1,000 residents. With Woodburn’s estimated population reaching 40,000, the district has been faced with a staffing deficit. While the district has steadily increased staffing as funds allowed, community growth has far outpaced financial resources, limiting the ability to expand emergency response capabilities.

Currently, the district has 16 firefighters, equating to just 4.38 firefighters available per day. To bolster response efforts, an intergovernmental agreement was formed in 2023 with the Hubbard Fire District to assist in cases where multiple emergency calls occur simultaneously. However, the need for additional personnel remained critical. To address this, the Woodburn Fire District has, for the past four years, been applying for SAFER grants. In 2024, the district successfully secured the grant funding, marking a significant milestone in its history.

The newly hired firefighters are Marshall Bray, Joseph De La Vega, Grant Dickenson, Trevor Hubbard (not included in photo), Brett Kruger, Maximillian Sucher, Zachariah Weldon, and Zachariah Wright—were officially sworn in at the district’s regularly scheduled board meeting on February 19, 2025. They will begin an eight-week training academy on March 3, 2025, led by newly promoted Lieutenant Jesse Halpern and Firefighter Engineer Thomas Cally. Upon completing their academy, they will be assigned to one of the district’s six shifts at either Station 21 on Newberg Hwy. or Station 22 on James Street, where they will undergo a rigorous one-year probation under the mentorship of seasoned Woodburn Fire personnel.

“This is a historic event for the Woodburn Fire District, as we have never before had the personnel to operate two fully staffed engine companies,” said Fire Chief Jim Walker. “We are excited to add to our already highly qualified membership and enhance emergency services for our community.”

For further information, please contact:

Fire Chief, Jim Walker

Assistant Chief, Mike Corless

Finance Officer, Korrin Petersen