FAQs

Yes. we would be happy to show you around.  Since we are a volunteer department,  the station is not continuously staffed.  You may call (503) 485-2023 to schedule a tour,  or stop by Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM.  That is our drill night and we will be at the station. Remember, even when tours are scheduled the tour may be cut short or cancelled due to an emergency call. 

Generally, a Fire Department is a municipal department governed by a city manager and or city council.  A Fire District is a Special District that collects taxes and is governed by an elected 5 or 7 person board and provides service in rural communities.  A Fire Department usually competes for funds with other city departments (library, roads, parks etc.). A Fire District or Fire Authority collects taxes only for itself and does not compete with other departments or agencies.  Spring Valley is a fire district governed by 5 elected board members.  Please visit the Board of Directors page for more information. 

No. It is illegal in the state of Oregon to burn trash, and can be up to a $5,000.00 dollar fine per occurance.

You may burn wood products only which include yard debris and tree trimmings during open burn season.  Please see the Burning Information page for more information.

As a fire burns, it moves upward and outward. Breaking the windows and/or cutting holes in the roof (called ventilation) stops the damaging outward movement and enables firefighters to fight the fire more efficiently and safely. 

Why when I call for an emergency, do I sometimes see an ambulance or fire truck from another District?

The fire truck carries much of the same equipment that you would find on the ambulance. The fire truck crew can provide an assessment of your medical condition and begin treating most conditions before the ambulance arrives on the scene. 

During the course of a day it is not unusual for two or three emergencies to occur at the same time. If ambulances or fire trucks are busy, we will dispatch a unit from another districts. This mutual-aid works both ways; therefore, ambulances and fire trucks are commonly dispatched to neighboring municipalities as well. 

Lights and sirens are only used when responding to an emergency call. If another apparatus reaches the call first, additional apparatus may be cancelled or continue to the call in a non-emergency mode. 

When you notice an approaching emergency vehicle, IMMEDIATELY pull to the right and stop. If you are approaching an intersection and see an emergency vehicle that is approaching the intersection from behind you or another direction, come to a stop preferably one or two car lengths back from the intersection. 

Each smoke alarm has a test button. Press the test button and hold it for a few seconds. If it is working correctly, the alarm will sound and will automatically stop when you release the button. Remember to test your smoke detector monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. If your smoke alarm is over 10 years old it needs to be replaced with a new unit. 

One smoke alarm isn’t enough! You should have at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom and in the hallway outside each bedroom. A typical 3 bedroom home would need at least 4 properly installed smoke alarms to provide a reasonable amount of protection for your family.

Smoke rises, so the best place to install an alarm is on the ceiling or high on an inside wall approximately 6-8 inches below the ceiling.

Anytime your smoke alarm goes off, check your home thoroughly. If you see or smell smoke, immediately get out of your home and call 911.

If the detector is chirping, replace the battery as soon as possible. Without a working battery, a smoke detector can't do its job and the risk of dying in a fire increases greatly. 

A multi-purpose (ABC) fire extinguisher is best for the home. Look for the rating to be at least 2A-10B-C on the label. This extinguisher can be used on any type of fire commonly found in the home. We recommended installing an extinguisher in the kitchen and in the garage. 

Spring Valley Fire District does not service or refill fire extinguishers. Look for a fire extinguisher service company or purchase a new extinguisher if the pressure gauge is low. 

The fire department bases our response on the type of call we receive. Even a small stovetop fire can grow rapidly. Until a fire crew can access the structure and determine that the fire is out, we would rather err on the side of caution and have all the resources in place to protect your family and property. 

We are glad to help. Please call 9-1-1 and they will dispatch us.

Spring Valley Fire District does not fill swimming pools  or water tanks. We suggest reaching out to a swimming pool or general contractor for this service. 

Of all the firefighter's in the country 70% are volunteer. 

85% of all fire Districts and Departments are volunteer.

Our Fire District is all volunteer with the exception of the Chief who receives a small monthly stipend.