May 5, 2026 3:30 a.m. 

Twenty fire districts in Douglas County are recipients of a Wildfire Season Staffing Grant from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

In preparation for the upcoming wildfire season, the agency awarded nearly $6 million in grants to boost response staffing across Oregon. The grant was awarded to a total of 180 local fire agencies, providing up to $35,000 to bring on extra firefighters through October.

State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said, “Over the years, we have offered this grant to the Oregon fire service, and it has been a game changer”. Ruiz-Temple said, “The Oregon fire service has been able to prevent fires from escalating to a much larger, more costly regional or statewide response”.

Local fire agencies can use the funding to hire seasonal firefighters or pay for additional shift work. The goal of the grant is to reduce response times and keep fires small and from impacting Oregon communities.

The OSFM release said the wildfire season staffing grant is in its fifth year and each summer proves to be a valuable investment in the Oregon fire service. Having dedicated staff has led to several agencies being able to respond to other life-saving emergencies.

The full list of recipient agencies can be found on the OSFM’s website: https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/wildfire/Pages/seasonal-staffing-grant.aspx

The Oregon State Legislature has allocated funding for the grant in 2027, as well.