Local 1159 Supports the Sandy Fire and Clackamas Fire Annexation
What is being proposed?
Sandy Fire District is proposing annexation into Clackamas Fire District to make emergency service improvements permanent and to increase local emergency response capabilities.
If approved by voters, Sandy Fire District would become part of Clackamas Fire District. Since 2021, Clackamas Fire has been providing fire and EMS services to the community of Sandy through contracts for service. This has provided more robust regional services and collaboration.
What would change?
The most significant service improvement is increased staffing. Currently, Clackamas Fire serves the community of Sandy with one fire engine with three firefighters 24 hours a day and a lighter, quick response unit called a rescue, with two firefighters for 12 hours a day.
- Rescue unit coverage would expand from 12 hours per day to 24 hours per day.
- Sandy would have two fully staffed emergency response units available 24/7:
- One fire engine with three firefighters (at least one paramedic)
- One rescue/quick response unit with two firefighters (at least one paramedic)
- Both units provide fire protection and Advanced Life Support (ALS) medical care.
This change ensures consistent emergency coverage overnight, when resources are currently limited.
Why this matters:
Sandy is a growing bedroom community for the Clackamas and Portland metro area.
- More than 5,000 Sandy residents commute outside the city for work. (Envision 2050)
- Population and demand for emergency services increase at night as residents return home.
- Currently, after 7:30 p.m., Sandy relies on a single staffed fire engine with backup responding from farther away.
Emergencies don’t stop at night; coverage shouldn’t either.
Wildfire Resiliency:
- As the “Gateway to Mt. Hood”, Sandy is on the fringe of the Mt. Hood National Forest, protecting both residents and surrounding rural and recreational areas.
- According to Envision Sandy 2050, wildfire risk is projected to increase by 25%.
- Faster, well-staffed local response is one of the most effective ways to:
- Stop fires early
- Keep wildland fires small
- Prevent large, costly, and dangerous wildfire incidents
Having two full-time staffed units in Sandy strengthens wildfire preparedness and response capacity.
Cost To Residents:
- The cost of this service increase is approximately:
- $0.22 per $1,000 of assessed home value (AV)
- This modest increase directly supports:
- 24-hour rescue staffing
- Increased emergency response reliability
- Improved wildfire resiliency
- Regional collaboration for fire and EMS services
Why Firefighters Support Annexation:
- The Professional Firefighters of Clackamas County, Local 1159, represents the firefighters providing emergency services in Sandy and throughout Clackamas County.
- Annexation:
- Improves public safety
- Improves firefighter safety
- Provides long-term service stability
- Focuses funding on frontline emergency response rather than administrative duplication
Bottom Line:
Annexation is a practical, cost-effective public safety solution.
- 24-hour rescue coverage
- Strengthens wildfire resilience
- Provides a regional fire service approach
- Reduces administrative cost and puts it back into service
- Long-term stability for a growing community
This proposal ensures Sandy is protected, day and night, now and into the future.
This information has been provided by the Professional Firefighters of Clackamas County, IAFF Local 1159.