SPRINGFIELD – An estimated 40 members of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 851, clad in matching yellow shirts, attended the public comment section to advocate for its own fire district during the Sept. 2 Springfield City Council meeting.
“We are here tonight because our system is broken and it puts our community at risk,” said Daniel Allred, vice president of the union and a Springfield High School alumnus, who was among the four firefighters who addressed the council regarding community concerns. Four of of the 24 public comments that night were made by IAFF Local 851 Firefighters.
Allred said he “took another oath with the Eugene Springfield Fire Department to protect the citizens of Eugene and Springfield. I take that oath seriously. It guides every decision I make, but it’s getting harder and harder to uphold that oath every year.”
The union addressed the merger of the Eugene and Springfield fire departments, which began in 2010 as an intergovernmental agreement, proposing a fire district to meet essential funding and operational needs.
“Let me be clear: response times are increasing. Fires double in size every minute that they are left unchecked. We often have less than 10 minutes to perform our firefighting safety or function before it is unsafe to do so. We have even less time to save someone trapped. This is life and death,” Allred said.
“In Springfield, in 2002, you had one firefighter for every 3,625 residents. Currently, you have one firefighter for every 4,199,” Allred said. “Now, in FY26, we’re talking about ‘brownouts,’ which means a fire station is closed for the day. That is unacceptable for the community.”
The key distinction between a fire department and a fire district lies in governance and funding. A city manager and council manage a fire department, while a fire district operates under separate governmental structures. In 2014, the Eugene-Springfield Fire (ESF) Department was established, merging services and resources from both cities.
“We are restrained by organizational paralysis–two councils, two budgets, which are continually under-resourced, and too many opinions on how to run a comprehensive fire department,” said Garrett Corbari, firefighter. “I do not ask for permission, but rather demand a real solution of long-lasting change.”
Kori Rodley, Ward 3 city councilor, said that, “it has never been a secret that for me, a fire district has been on the table from start to finish. I’ve been part of the governance conversation. I’m not always the majority voice at that table, yet I’m still there. I know that the governance conversation has gone on for a very long time… I thought we were going to be done much sooner. I think we’re on our third union president now in this conversation. …. I absolutely support that we’ve got to move this conversation to the finish line and see what we can do.”
Mayor Sean VanGordon also responded to the union.
“I hear you guys when you talk about how hard you’re working, how many dedicated hours you’re putting in to serve the community of Springfield,” VanGordon said. “This is particularly challenging. … One of the comments that came up in the work session was an understanding that whatever we do with fire, it is going to take more money, and that is going to take more investment. The one thing I will ask is just a little bit of patience.”
Corbari said, “The time is now to trust this union body in supporting the formation of a fire district. The data support it. It’s been proven to be a successful model elsewhere … We’re asking for the capability to serve your constituents so they can feel safe in their homes.”
According to a Eugene-Springfield Fire alert from Friday, Sept. 5, ESF operates only seven advanced life support ambulances regularly. This is the same number that was available over 30 years ago, despite call volume increasing by over 1000%.
“I’m not here to point fingers. I’m here to offer solutions, and a fire district is a great solution. We need your help. We need your leadership. We need a fire district,” Allred said to the council.
