Friends of SW Polk Fire

05/22/2026

Thank you to our district residents for participating in the May election and the community discussions surrounding SW Polk Fire District Measure 27-148. We sincerely appreciate the time our community members took to attend information sessions, ask questions, provide feedback, and participate in the election process.

Community engagement remains extremely important as we continue planning for the future of fire and emergency services within SW Polk Fire District.

While the local option levy did not pass, we remain committed to serving our community to the best of our ability. The District will continue working with the Board and county partners as we navigate necessary operational and staffing adjustments moving forward. Current staffing reductions are anticipated to take effect June 30, 2026.

To those who supported the measure and took the time to stay informed and engaged — thank you. Your support for your local fire and EMS services is deeply appreciated.

05/18/2026

Get your votes in!

Ballots are due tomorrow, May 19th. Please reach out to the station or any members of the department for questions.

05/12/2026

May elections are just 1 week away, and we want to remind our community to please vote for SW Polk Fire District Levy 27-148.

This levy has a direct impact on emergency response throughout our district and helps maintain the staffing needed to continue providing timely fire and EMS services to our communities.

Passing this levy allows us to continue providing prompt response and care to the people who rely on us every day. It helps maintain emergency coverage, staffing, and the level of service our community depends on when emergencies happen.

This measure is about maintaining the emergency services our communities currently rely on every day.

If you have any additional questions, please call or visit any of our stations and a member of our staff would be happy to answer your questions.

Phone: (503) 925-4275

Please remember to vote. Every vote matters.

05/06/2026

Tonight is the last chance to attend a community forum. It starts at 5:30 at the Rickreall location, 9105 Rickreall Rd.

05/06/2026

Last Chance to attend and open forum!

SW Polk Fire District Kicks Off Community Forum Series Tonight as May Levy Vote Approaches

The Southwestern Polk County Fire District is holding the first of three community information forums tonight as residents prepare to decide the future of local fire and emergency medical services in the May election.

The first forum is scheduled for tonight at the Bridgeport Community Fire Station, located at 6040 Kings Valley Highway in Dallas. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a free hot dog dinner. A live fire demonstration is set for 6:00 p.m., followed by a speaker presentation at 6:20 p.m.

The forums center on Measure 27-148, a proposed five-year levy of $1.37 per $1,000 of assessed value. The district says the measure is not designed to expand services but to maintain current staffing and coverage levels under today's cost structure. For a home with a $200,000 assessed value, the levy would cost an estimated $274 per year.

This is the district's second attempt to pass a levy after a November 2025 special election ended in a narrow defeat. The November measure was rejected 1,224 votes to 920, with a voter turnout of about 37 percent.

Following that failed vote, the SW Polk Fire District Board of Directors announced in March that it had issued contingent layoff notices affecting six line positions, effective June 30.

The district is being direct about what happens if the levy fails again. Six line positions will be eliminated, the Bridgeport station will go unstaffed, and the district will return to operating a single ambulance. The district says those changes would add an estimated 8 to 12 minutes to response times for residents in the southern portion of the district depending on location and call availability.

The district says that in 2020, response times in some areas including Bridgeport averaged approximately 25 minutes for 90 percent of calls, but with levy-funded staffing additions, that figure dropped to under 10 minutes by 2024.

The current base tax rate is $0.81 per $1,000 of assessed value. The district says rising operational costs, including staffing, insurance, apparatus maintenance, fuel, medical supplies, and regulatory requirements, have outpaced revenue at that rate. The district also noted that anticipated ambulance transport revenue from areas south of Dallas was not realized, putting additional pressure on property tax funding.

Two additional forums are planned. The second will be held April 15 at Salt Creek Community Fire Station, 15455 Salt Creek Road, with a Forcible Entry Demonstration. The third is scheduled for May 6 at Rickreall Community Fire Station, 9105 Rickreall Road, with a CPR demonstration. Both follow the same format: hot dogs at 5:30 p.m., a demonstration at 6:00 p.m., and a speaker at 6:20 p.m.

Residents can verify whether their property falls within the SW Polk Fire District using the Polk County GIS system on the county's website.

The May ballot deadline has not yet been announced but voters in the district will cast their decision on Measure 27-148 in the coming weeks.

04/21/2026

We want to try something a little different.

There’s a lot of information out there—and a lot of confusion too. Rather than posting a ton of info and hoping it answers your questions, we’d rather hear directly from you.

What do you want to know?

Drop your questions in the comments—about funding, staffing, response times, volunteers, where your money goes, or anything else—and we’ll give you clear, direct, and honest answers.

We also have two more community forums coming up, and we’d love to see you there. It’s a great opportunity to hear this information directly from on-duty staff and chief officers, ask questions in real time, and have open conversations face-to-face.

04/17/2026

As we get closer to the upcoming levy vote, I want to help clarify what is actually being proposed and what it means for our community.

Current rate: $0.81 per $1,000 of assessed value
Proposed rate: $1.37 per $1,000 of assessed value

That is an increase of $0.56 per $1,000 of assessed value — not $1.37.

For an average assessed home value of around $237,000, that comes out to roughly:
• About $11 more per month
• About $0.36 per day

⸻

🚒What this funding supports🚒

This levy is not about expansion or adding unnecessary resources.
It is about maintaining the level of service we currently provide.

That includes:
• Keeping an ambulance staffed and available in the southern part of the district
• Maintaining response capability to Bridgeport and surrounding rural areas
• Ensuring timely medical care and fire response when emergencies happen

⸻

🚫What happens if it does NOT pass🚫

If the levy fails, we will be forced to reduce staffing and service levels.

That means:
• Loss of dedicated coverage in the Bridgeport area
• Fewer personnel available to respond to emergencies
• Increased reliance on outside agencies that are further away
• Longer response times when minutes matter most

This directly impacts how quickly help can reach someone in a life-threatening emergency.

⸻

🚨Regarding recent hiring announcements🚨

You may have seen a recent post about the district hiring.

To clarify, this is not expansion hiring.

We have already seen employees leave for more stable positions elsewhere due to the uncertainty surrounding the levy and potential layoffs. That reality is already impacting staffing levels today.

Any hiring moving forward is intended to maintain minimum staffing levels, not increase them.

Additionally, no new positions would be filled until after the levy vote, and the number of personnel brought on will be directly dependent on the outcome of that vote.

⸻

Why this matters

In emergency services, time is everything.
Whether it’s a cardiac arrest, a serious injury, or a structure fire — delays have real consequences.

This levy is about ensuring that when you call for help, someone is there to respond quickly and effectively.

⸻

I respect that everyone has to make the decision that’s best for their situation. My goal is simply to provide clear, factual information so our community understands what is at stake.

If you have questions, please come talk with us at one of our upcoming community open houses.

04/09/2026

04/02/2026

🚑 Why does having a second ambulance matter? 🚑

It comes down to one simple thing: coverage.

When one ambulance is already on a call, that unit — and its crew — are committed. They may be on scene for an extended time or transporting a patient out of the area.

During that time, they’re unavailable for the next emergency.

That’s where a second ambulance makes a difference.

✔ It ensures another crew is still available in the district
✔ It reduces wait times for the next 911 call
✔ It allows us to continue serving our community without gaps in coverage

With adequate coverage, we’re often able to reach calls anywhere in our district in about 10 minutes or less.

Without that second ambulance, the next call may rely on help from neighboring districts — which can add 5–10 additional minutes to response times.

For example:

If a crew is tied up on a longer interfacility transport or a complex medical call, a second ambulance means there is still help standing by here at home.

Our goal is simple — when you call 911, someone is ready to respond.

💬 Have questions about how ambulance coverage works? We’re happy to answer them.