South Lane County Fire & Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical services, as well as fire prevention services, per ORS Chapter 478.
South Lane serves about 24,000 people in 133 square miles. In 2005, the District responded to about 2,516 emergency calls. Ninety percent of the calls are medical; 5% are fires and the other 5% are miscellaneous calls.
Ambulance service is provided for an area of 800 square miles. Of the ambulance calls, 8 in 10 are transported, with 75% going to Eugene or Springfield hospitals.
The 12 career firefighters/medics, 40 volunteers and two support personnel (current as of August 2006) operate out of two stations in Cottage Grove and two in Creswell.
In 2003, Cottage Grove Fire Department agreed to be acquired by South Lane Fire and Rescue. The Creswell Volunteer Fire Department merged with the resulting department.
The district operates with a permanent property tax rate of $1.0335 per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate was established in 2003 when the new district was formed.
