From left, Tom Soward, Jim Bailor, Berneda McDonald, Bob Drullinger, and Jeri Porter.
Lorane Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD) officials recently announced the purchase of two new trucks that will be serving residents during emergencies. What’s even better is that both trucks were bought with reserves built by prudent management. Despite overseeing a small district, Fire Chief Tom Soward, assistant chief Jim Bailor, and the board of directors— president Berneda McDonald, Gary Lut man, Bob Drullinger, Jeri Porter, and Martin McClure — take pride in understanding their tax base and were able to buy and cover all costs of outfitting the trucks.
The trucks are a 2020 Ford F-350 rescue vehicle and a 2020 Ford F-450 brush rig with a cab chassis.
Number 2518, the F-350 rescue vehicle, with its club cab, can seat four responders comfortably, or five, if necessary, whereas its predecessor could only transport two. It is equipped with a canopy that holds medical supplies for the EMTs and other equipment for car wrecks and medical responses.
Number 2513, the F-450 brush rig, is designed for brush fires and has a hose reel that can be used for fires close to the road. It carries hoses, pumping equipment and a 300-gallon water tank.
Bailor has done most of the research, design and purchase work for the trucks, and the company that put together the rigs is going to name the designs of each the “Lorane Model” and will share them with other fire districts.
The Lorane RFPD bought a new, state-of-the-art vehicle extraction tool that can be used with car accidents. According to McClure, it cuts up vehicles “super quick and quietly” compared to the tools they have used in the past. The vehicle-extraction tool is battery-operated, so it can be grabbed off the truck and put to work.
One of the new trucks, packed and ready.
With the addition of the new trucks, Lorane’s fleet includes seven vehicles — two structure fire engines; one tender with a 3,000-gallon water tank; one command vehicle; and a second rescue rig. Of the two fire engines used for structure fires, the oldest is the dependable 20-year-old truck. It carries a 1,000-gallon water tank to supplement the tender; the other was obtained from the Sheldon fire station in Eugene. Although used, it had low mileage and will serve the district for years with its 500-gallon water tank.
The Lorane fire department averages about 100 fire and medical calls per year. Bailor estimated that 80% to 85% are for medical reasons; 10% are for car accidents; and 5% to 10% are for fire calls. The department also provides mutual aid support to the South Lane Fire District (which includes Cottage Grove and Creswell) and the Lane Fire Authority which is made up of 16 fire stations that cover a service area of 282 square miles.
Lorane RFPD frequently joins with the Crow, Lorane Highway and the South Lane stations to train in search-and-rescue, firefighting techniques and water shuttle exercises, among others. The water shuttle exercises take place at a pond at King Estate Winery, north of Lorane, which supplies much of the water needed for emergency use.
The South Lane Fire District provides ambulance service for the Lorane area south of King Estate Winery. Any paramedic needs north of King Estate are handled by the Lane Fire Authority.
The Lorane RFPD has two paid staff members and 16 volunteers. As with most fire districts, volunteer recruits are always needed. They receive training and, once certified, are put on call to respond 24 hours a day. Lorane has had a long and rich history of volunteers dating from when the Lorane Volunteer Fire and Emergency Group was founded in June 1973. In my book “From Sawdust and Cider to Wine” (2006), I included a history of the Lorane Fire Department.
Besides a cadet program for 15-year-olds, various larger fire districts offer a residence program for certified volunteer firefighters and EMTs who are attending LCC’s paramedic program. They are offered free residence in dormitories that are set up at the station while they attend class and volunteer in the fire district.
In 1982, the Lorane community approved the establishment of a fire district by a vote of 125-56. The Lorane Rural Fire Department at that time covered 12 square miles and approximately 650 people in 218 dwellings. Shortly after the levy was approved, the Fire Board installed Joe Brewer as chief and Bruce McDonald as assistant chief.
Insurance rates dropped when the fire distrcit was established, and upgraded equpment dropped the rate further in 1985.
The original fire hall was built entirely from volunteer help and donated materials, using no tax money. Bohemia and other local lumber companies donated the materials and cash, and the equipment was donated by Western Lane Forestry and Weyerhaeuser Co.
The residents of Lorane have much to be proud of in our fire department, its staff and volunteers. We owe them a debt of thanks and recognition for all that they do.
Reach Pat through her website allthingslorane.org.
