Four fire agencies in Benton County are among 180 statewide that will share nearly $6 million in grants from the Oregon State Fire Marshal to bolster staffing ahead of the 2026 wildfire season.
Philomath Fire and Rescue, Adair Rural Fire Protection District, Hoskins-Kings Valley Rural Fire Protection District and Monroe Rural Fire Protection District were each eligible for up to $35,000 through the agency’s 2026 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant, announced May 1.
The funding allows local fire agencies to hire seasonal firefighters or pay for additional shift work through October. The state’s stated goal is to reduce response times and keep fires small before they grow into larger, more costly incidents.
“Over the years, we have offered this grant to the Oregon fire service, and it has been a game changer,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a news release. “The Oregon fire service has been able to prevent fires from escalating to a much larger, more costly regional or statewide responses.”
Now in its fifth year, the program prioritizes smaller, rural fire agencies that often rely on volunteers. State officials said the added staffing has also allowed recipient agencies to respond to other life-safety calls beyond wildfires.
Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue Chief Sean Hartley credited the grant with strengthening his agency’s response to two major 2025 incidents.
“I can say without hesitation this grant had a direct and immediate impact on our ability to respond to the Alder Springs and Flat fires in 2025,” Hartley said. “The additional personnel funded by the grant meant we had more firefighters available when these large incidents occurred. This support strengthened our operational readiness when it mattered most.”
The Oregon Legislature has allocated funding to continue the grant program in 2027.