NOVEMBER 2026

Hoodland Fire District #74 Newsletter

Proudly serving the communities of  Marmot, Cherryville, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zigzag, Rhododendron, and Government Camp

1. Chief's Message

Hello Hoodland Community,

As I step into my new role as Fire Chief, I want to thank the Board of Directors for their trust and confidence in me. It's an honor to take on this responsibility and continue serving a community that has been such a big part of my life for more than 40 years.

I also want to take a moment to thank Chief Jim Price for his leadership and dedication to Hoodland Fire. I've appreciated the opportunity to work alongside Jim and wish him all the best as he begins his retirement.

One of the things I've always appreciated about Hoodland Fire is the people who make up our organization. From our career and volunteer firefighters to our administrative staff, we have a dedicated group of people who care about what they do and the community they serve. I'm proud to work alongside them and grateful for the support our community has given us over the years.

Taking on the role of Fire Chief comes with a great deal of responsibility, and it's one I don't take lightly. I look forward to continuing to work with our members and serving the residents and visitors who depend on Hoodland Fire.

Thank you for your continued support of our Fire District. I'm looking forward to this next chapter.

Scott Kline, EFO

Fire Chief

Hoodland Fire District #74

2. Fire Safety

🔥 Backyard Debris Burning Is Open!

With fire season over, Hoodland Fire District #74 is reminding residents that backyard debris burning is now open, allowing you to safely dispose of yard debris while following local burning guidelines.

Small Piles 5 ft. × 5 ft. × 5 ft. or Smaller — NO PERMIT REQUIRED

Small yard debris fires used to dispose of natural materials, such as wood, needles, and leaves from trees, shrubs, and plants, do not require a permit when the pile is 5 ft × 5 ft × 5 ft or smaller. Burning must take place between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Materials should be dry and must not produce dense smoke or noxious odors.

Larger Burn Piles — PERMIT REQUIRED

If you plan to burn a pile larger than 5 ft × 5 ft × 5 ft, your site must need to be inspected and approved to obtain a burn permit. Visit our 🔗Burn Information page for additional information and permit requests.

🔥 Burn Safely and Responsibly

• Never burn garbage or household trash. Only burn natural yard debris.
• Never use flammable liquids such as gasoline or diesel to start or accelerate a fire.
• Take precautions to prevent the fire from spreading, including establishing a fire line around the burn area.
• Keep a charged garden hose, shovels, and other firefighting tools readily available.
• Never leave a burn pile unattended. A competent person must remain with the fire at all times.
• Always check for additional local restrictions or temporary burn bans before burning. 

Please burn responsibly and help protect your neighbors, property, and our community. Always check for additional local restrictions or temporary burn bans before burning.

📞 Hoodland Fire Burn Information Call 503-622-3256, Option 1

3. News & Events

🚧 Main Station Project Construction Update

Construction for our new Main Station at 25400 E Salmon River Road, Welches, OR 97067 is progressing smoothly and is on budget! 

Exciting progress continues as the new station begins to take shape. With structural framing underway, the layout of the building is becoming easier to envision. As the walls go up, the vision for this new facility is becoming a reality. The apparatus bays, administrative offices, firefighter living quarters, community room, and dedicated spaces for our U.S. Forest Service partners are all part of the station’s design.

Thank you for your continued support as we build the future home of Hoodland Fire District #74. We look forward to sharing more updates as construction progresses!

This project is made possible thanks to voter-approved bond funding. Visit 🔗HFD Fire Station Project Overview page for future updates.

🌲Chipping Program in Partnership with Ant Farm

Hoodland Fire District #74 is proud to continue our partnership with AntFarm Youth Services for another year! We have agreed to a new agreement with AntFarm to continue funding this valuable program to our community. Through this partnership, we help residents create and maintain defensible space around their homes by removing excess brush and woody debris. These efforts help reduce wildfire risk, improve home safety, and strengthen our community’s wildfire preparedness.

We appreciate AntFarm’s continued commitment to supporting local youth while helping Hoodland residents protect their homes and properties from wildfire. By working together, we can make our community more resilient and better prepared for wildfire season.

Learn more about the 🔗Chipping Program and how you can participate in creating a safer, more wildfire-resilient community!

👨‍🚒 Expanding Our Team: Adding an Additional Firefighter

Hoodland Fire District #74 is taking steps to strengthen our staffing by adding an additional line firefighter to our team. We will be interviewing qualified candidates from our active Civil Service eligibility list as we work toward filling this position.

Adding another firefighter will help reduce overtime costs and improve our ability to maintain adequate staffing coverage. With emergency calls occurring around the clock, having sufficient personnel available is essential to supporting our firefighters and providing reliable emergency response to our community.

This additional position will also improve our ability to respond when multiple emergency calls occur at the same time, helping ensure we are better prepared to meet the community’s needs. We remain committed to evaluating our staffing needs and making responsible decisions that support the safety and well-being of our personnel and the community we serve. Thank you for your continued support of Hoodland Fire District #74!

🎁 Hoodland Christmas Baskets: Giving Back Together

Hoodland Fire District #74 is excited to participate in the Hoodland Community Christmas Baskets Program again this year!

This cherished annual tradition brings our community together to spread holiday joy and support local families and individuals who could use a helping hand during the Christmas season. Donations of non-perishable food, gifts, and monetary contributions help provide holiday meals and Christmas presents to those in need throughout the Hoodland area.

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of community members, local businesses, and volunteers who donate their time and resources to make this program possible. Together, we can help make the holidays a little brighter for our neighbors.

Bringing Warmth and Joy This Holiday Season

The Hoodland Community Christmas Baskets Program is dedicated to providing food and gifts to families in need throughout Alder Creek, Welches, Wemme, Brightwood, Rhododendron, and Government Camp, helping ensure that everyone experiences the magic, warmth, and spirit of the holiday season.

For more information about the program, to learn how you can contribute, or to sign up to receive a Christmas Basket, visit 🔗Hoodland Community Christmas Baskets

Questions? Email hoodlandchristmasbaskets@yahoo.com

4. Training

🚒 Training Never Stops

At Hoodland Fire District #74, training is a year-round commitment. As wildland fires become more frequent and severe, firefighters are increasingly called upon to remove hazardous trees that can threaten both firefighter safety and firefighting operations. To help meet this growing need, Hoodland Fire hosted training designed to prepare firefighters for the nationally recognized NWCG Basic Faller certification, which qualifies personnel to perform non-complex tree felling and chainsaw operations during wildland fire incidents.

The training combined online coursework, classroom instruction, and extensive hands-on practice. When land clearing began for Hoodland Fire's new Main Station project, firefighters took advantage of the opportunity to gain valuable experience felling a variety of tree species and sizes. Participants worked under the guidance of qualified instructors, applying safe cutting techniques while learning the skills needed to work effectively in wildland fire environments.

Training continued later in the year during another tree removal project near Molalla, where Hoodland Fire members joined firefighters, volunteers, and experienced sawyers from other agencies. Participants received valuable coaching, completed task book requirements, and moved closer to earning their NWCG certifications. Once certified, these firefighters will be qualified to perform saw work both within the District and on wildland fire deployments throughout the Pacific Northwest, helping make firefighting operations safer and more effective.

👨‍🚒Volunteer Firefighter Academy Begins This Month!

Hoodland Fire District #74's Volunteer Firefighter Academy begins this month, welcoming a new group of dedicated community members who are taking the first step toward becoming firefighters. This five-month program combines classroom instruction, hands-on training, and online coursework to provide volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to serve the Hoodland community.

Participants commit their weekends to training while balancing coursework and assignments at home. Through hard work and dedication, academy members learn the fundamentals of firefighting, emergency response, teamwork, and public service. The program is challenging, but it provides invaluable experience and prepares volunteers to respond safely and effectively when their community needs them most.

We are excited to support this new class as they begin their firefighting journey. Their willingness to serve reflects the strong community spirit that makes our volunteer fire service possible. If you're interested in making a difference, visit 🔗Volunteer Firefighter to learn more about becoming a Volunteer Firefighter. Recruitment begins each summer, but it's never too early to start thinking about joining our team. 🚒❤️

5. Upcoming Events

🎉 Fire Chief Scott Kline Swearing In Ceremony

• Date: November 10, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
• Location: Main Station, 69634 E Hwy 26, Welches, OR
• Details: Join us as we officially welcome and celebrate Fire Chief Scott Kline during his Swearing-In Ceremony! This special occasion marks an important milestone as he takes the oath of office and begins his service as Fire Chief. Community members are invited to attend and show their support.
• 🔗Fire Chief Scott Kline Swearing In Ceremony

📅 November 11 – OFFICE CLOSED

•  Veterans Day - To all who have served: We salute you today and every day!

📋 Hoodland Fire Board Meeting

• Date: November 10, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Location: Main Station, 69634 E Hwy 26, Welches, OR
• Details: Our Board of Directors meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. The public is always invited to attend! Members of the public are allowed to speak for 3 minutes under “Persons to be Heard” 🗣️
• 🔗Hoodland Fire District Board Meetings

📅 November 26 – 27 OFFICE CLOSED

• Thanksgiving Holiday - From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!🦃

6. Emergency Preparedness

🚨 It’s important to be ready for wildfires, storms, power outages, and hazards. One of the easiest ways to stay informed is through Clackamas County Public Alerts

• 📱 Sign up for Clackamas County Public Alerts: These alerts notify you via text, phone, or email about emergencies in your area—including wildfires, floods, winter storms, road closures, and other hazards.
• ✅ How to sign up: Visit Clackamas County Public Alerts and create a free account. You can customize which alerts you receive and how you get them.
• ⏰ Stay informed in real-time: Alerts are sent immediately, giving you time to take action—evacuate if necessary, avoid dangerous roads, or secure your home.
• 🌐 Other resource: Follow Hoodland Fire District on social media for updates.

7. Member Spotlight

When did you join the team?

November 1984 as a Volunteer Firefighter, then was hired in November 2004 as a Career Firefighter/Paramedic

Most memorable moment with HFD?

It's hard to pick just one memorable moment after more than 40 years. I still remember starting as a young volunteer firefighter, riding on the tailboard of fire engines and in open-cab apparatus. As a kid, it was an exciting experience, and the fire service was a very different place back then.

What really stands out, though, are the people I've had the opportunity to work with over the years. Many were mentors who helped shape my decision to pursue firefighting as a career. Some were career firefighters at other departments who volunteered at Hoodland, and I remember visiting them at their stations and meeting other firefighters.

There have certainly been memorable incidents, including the Oregon Episcopal School incident on the mountain, the Golden Poles Fire, and more recently the Timberline Lodge Fire. But looking back, it's the people, friendships, and experiences along the way that I remember most.

How has HFD changed you?

Hoodland Fire has been a part of my life for more than 40 years, so it's hard to imagine who I would be without it. I started as a young volunteer firefighter, never imagining where that journey would take me. Over the years, the experiences I've had, both good and bad, have helped shape who I am today.

The fire service has brought out the leader in me and given me a strong sense of responsibility to the people who live in and visit our community. It has taught me a great deal about people, teamwork, and leadership, while giving me a different perspective on life that carries over into my personal life and the things I do outside the fire service.

What's your favorite part about being a member of HFD?

Even after more than 40 years, I still enjoy coming to work and being around the people who make up Hoodland Fire, both career and volunteer members. There's a sense of belonging and camaraderie that comes from being part of this organization for so long. I also value the opportunity to serve our community and the responsibility that comes with knowing people depend on us when they need help. I guess my favorite part is simply being part of Hoodland Fire and everything that comes with it.

What's your favorite snack?

I'm an equal opportunity snacker! It really depends on what I'm in the mood for or what's available, but I do have a weakness for dark chocolate.

8. Contact Information

STAY CONNECTED WITH US

• Phone: (503) 622-3256
• Website: www.hoodlandfire.gov
• Social Media: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and safety tips.
• Address: 69634 E Hwy 26, Welches, OR 97067
• Email: hoodland@hoodlandfire.gov

🙏 Thank You for Your Continued Support!

Be Ready! Be Informed! Be Safe!
~ The Hoodland Fire District #74 Team