Q: There’s been a lot of discussion about Clackamas Fire’s response in 2020 and the impact on Estacada. Can you respond and expand on that? Why were firefighters told to stand down and not protect people’s homes? People say they were threatened with arrest if they stayed at their homes.

A: The 2020 wildfires were an unprecedented, fast-moving event that overwhelmed local and statewide resources. We acknowledge community frustration, and while we can point to both successes and shortcomings, and the key organizational failure was not communicating and engaging the community early enough after the event. Clackamas Fire commissioned an independent After Action Review (AAR) by experienced outside fire leaders to identify what worked, what didn’t, and what improvements were needed.

The AAR findings enabled Clackamas Fire to take several actions, including expanding wildland capabilities, improving training/accountability using federal qualification standards, exploring aviation/heavy equipment options, and partnering with Oregon Department of Forestry and Clackamas Community College. We have increased dedicated wildland apparatus from about 9 (in 2020) to more than 20, and created “Crew 30,” a municipal Type 2 initial attack hand crew that can deploy locally and across the western U.S. to build experience.

Other wildland improvements we’ve made since 2020 include staffing Eagle Creek Station 24/7 (as a key backup resource for the area) and strengthening local wildland coverage (including seasonal staffing support).

Q: Why can’t Sandy just use mutual aid as a standalone fire department?

A: The big misconception about mutual aid is “you call and they come.” Mutual aid is not guaranteed. Agencies may be unavailable and can decline; they’re not required to sent a unit. Annexation would allow for Sandy to use an “automatic aid,” where a full effective response force is dispatched immediately for fires, cardiac arrests, major vehicle crashes, and other incidents. Additionally, complete reliance on a mutual aid model would likely lack depth for multiple simultaneous calls and specialized incidents (structure fires, rope rescue, wildland, etc.).

Q: The contract expires in 2030. Why can’t we wait to vote on annexation then?

A: Contracts are typically shorter (often 3–5 years) and this partnership has been tested for several years, and service improvements are already in place. Delaying only adds risk, seeing as either party can end the contract and future labor/financial conditions are unknown. They also note annexation would allow Sandy-area residents to run for Clackamas Fire board positions and participate in district governance. From an operational standpoint, upgrading Sandy rescue unit from 12-hour to 24/7 staffing can only occur if Sandy is annexed into Clackamas Fire.

Q: In 2027 there’s a levy proposed to increase the cost about 50 – 60 cents per $1,000. How much difference will that bring in if Sandy becomes part of Clackamas Fire vs. not, and what is the current cost for Sandy residents?

A: Sandy’s current rate is about $2.17 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the proposed annexation rate is about $2.40 per $1,000 (an increase of about $0.22). The current levy will expire in May 2028 with a current rate of $0.52 per $1,000, meaning Clackamas Fire residents pay about $2.92 per $1,000 for fire and emergency services.

If the elected board of directors decides to go out for a renewal, all funding measures are subject to a vote of the people. Sandy-area voters would be able to vote on any future levy measures once annexed, currently something they’re not able to do.

Q: I haven’t heard much about the volunteer program. Would it close?

A: The volunteer program would continue. Since entering our contract for services, Sandy and Clackamas volunteers increased coverage at the Firwood/Dover station area from a few nights per month to an average of about 26 nights per month. There’s been an increase in volunteer interest with 80+ applicants for the upcoming cohort, up from just 12 applicants only three years ago.

Q: If we do not annex into Clackamas Fire, how might that affect our homeowner’s insurance?

A: If we do not annex into Clackamas Fire, Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings for sandy residents have improved from a 4 to a 3 (lower is better), and Clackamas Fire is rated at 2. ISO ratings can affect insurance costs, but do not guarantee specific premium changes for any individual policy. Without annexation, and assuming there’s no contract renewal, the area could revert toward prior ratings. It’s worth noting that since Gladstone chose to annex into Clackamas Fire (just this past November), their recent re-rating from a 5 to a 2.

Q: Where are the Sandy apparatus? Why were they moved out of Sandy? And why do engines say “Clackamas Fire” instead of “Sandy Fire”?

A: Sandy apparatuses serve the local Sandy-area stations while also adding resources. Our “Clackamas Fire” label reflects us, Clackamas Fire, as your current service provider under contract, proudly serving the Sandy community.

Q: Why would a ladder truck be used in Sandy?

A: Ladder trucks may be needed for critical fireground tasks (such as roof ventilation and elevated rescue), for heavy vehicle extrication equipment, and for taller buildings where ground ladders are insufficient. Of course, future apparatus decisions will be driven by incident data, growth trends, and wildfire risk.