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Knowing firsthand the importance of having an active rural fire district, we’re urging all to vote yes on 1-123. Essentially an all volunteer staff, the Baker Rural Rural Fire Protection District is dedicated to serving without question. In doing so, the volunteers deserve to have safe, compliant equipment that is ready to perform when needed and keep the volunteers safe.

The district was formed in approximately 1985 and has worked within the same budget for almost 40 years. What entity hasn’t had an operating increase in 40 years? Not insurance, taxes, food, fuel, electricity, etc. The amount you will pay for the levy could be added to your homeowners insurance policy if the rural district closes and that doesn’t protect us, it just pays a loss.

The district has approximately 22 volunteers. They had 138 calls in 2023, which is an increase of 41 calls over 2022. That’s 2.5 calls/week with 1-2 volunteers min/call and 1 to 2 hours per call. That’s a lot of volunteer time.

It’s not only fire protection, they also assist EMS, Life Flight, extraction, vehicle fires which includes the freeway from exit 302-325.

In the current climate of defunding police and fire protection, it’s time to show our support for what those entities do for us and fund them. One day you may need the service, you’ll be glad they are available.

Vote yes on 1-123.

Kathy and Denzil Robbins

Baker City