Fire Department · Combination
Polk County Fire District No. 1
Independence, OR · Polk County
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Polk County Fire District No. 1 traces its roots to 1947, when it was established as the Southeast Polk Rural Fire Protection District serving the small communities of Airlie, Buena Vista, and Suver. In 1985 the district was renamed Polk County Fire District No. 1 following the annexation of the Independence and Monmouth fire departments, and it expanded again in 1992 with the annexation of the Pedee Rural Fire Protection District.
Today the district operates as a special district under Oregon law (ORS 478), governed by an elected five-member board, and organizes its work across three divisions: Operations and Training, EMS/Logistics, and Fire Prevention. It runs four fire stations — a career-staffed station in Independence supported by three volunteer-staffed stations in Buena Vista, Airlie, and Pedee — and offers services ranging from 911 emergency response to fire inspections, public education, CPR courses, and its FireMed subscription program.
In 2024 the district responded to 3,581 calls for service, the large majority of them medical and rescue calls, reflecting the EMS-heavy workload typical of a combination district covering a mixed rural and small-city population base in the mid-Willamette Valley.
MissionCommitted and dedicated to providing professional fire and life safety and environmental protection to the community.
The district's job openings page does not list current vacancies; it directs applicants to select a specific position from a menu to see whether that vacancy is open. No detailed hiring process, requirements, or benefits information is published on the site beyond references to standard EEOC and Oregon workplace-poster disclosures.
What area does Polk County Fire District No. 1 cover?
The district covers 185 square miles of southeast Polk County and western Marion County, Oregon, including the cities of Independence and Monmouth, serving a population of approximately 28,000 people.
How many fire stations does the district operate?
The district operates four fire stations: a career-staffed station in Independence (Station 90) and three volunteer-staffed stations in Buena Vista (Station 40), Airlie (Station 80), and Pedee (Station 70).
How did the district form?
The district was originally established in 1947 as the Southeast Polk Rural Fire Protection District. It was renamed Polk County Fire District No. 1 in 1985 after annexing the Independence and Monmouth fire departments, and expanded further in 1992 by annexing the Pedee Rural Fire Protection District.
How many calls does the district respond to each year?
In 2024 the district responded to 3,581 calls for service, including 2,545 medical/rescue calls, 76 fire calls, and 397 public service calls.
How is the district governed?
Polk County Fire District No. 1 is a special district under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 478, governed by an elected five-member board of directors.