Columbia River Fire & Rescue

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Saint Helens, OR
Columbia River Fire & Rescue

CRF&R solves community problems by doing the right thing, the right way at the right time. St.

Columbia River Fire & Rescue protects approximately 200 square miles of Columbia County, Oregon. Helens, Columbia City and the City of Rainier reside within its borders. CRF&R operates out of 7 stations providing fire, rescue and ALS transport medical services.

09/15/2026

**Public Service Announcement**

09/11/2026

Today, Columbia River Fire & Rescue joins our community and our nation in remembering the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

We honor the 2,977 people who were killed that day, including 343 FDNY firefighters who answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice.

We remember their courage. We remember their service. We remember the families, friends, and communities forever changed by that day.

Twenty-five years later, we continue to honor their legacy and the commitment to serve others before self.

We will never forget.

09/10/2026

Columbia River Fire and Rescue responded to an apartment fire earlier today at the Broadleaf Arbor apartment complex. Fire crews quickly brought the incident under control. The buildings fire sprinkler suppression system played a pivotal role in containing the fire to a single room and significantly limiting fire damage.

One person was injured in the incident and transported to a Portland area emergency room for treatment.

Several families have been temporarily displaced due to interruptions to power and water service, as well as water damage, resulting from the sprinkler activation and firefighting operations.

The Columbia County Emergency Operations Center, in cooperation with CCRider, the Columbia County Fairgrounds and the Red Cross are helping the displaced residents with temporary housing until they can return to their apartments.

A preliminary investigation has been completed by Columbia River Fire and Rescue. The cause and circumstances of the fire remain under investigation.

Thank you to the large collective efforts of St. Helens PD, Scappoose Fire District, Columbia County 911, Broadleaf Arbor Management, CC EOC, CC Rider, the Red Cross and CC Fairgrounds.

08/24/2026

Yesterday, after responding to a barbecue fire in St. Helens, Lt Bair and his crew took a few extra minutes to spend some time with a few future firefighters!

The kids got an up-close look at the fire engine, tried on some fire helmets, and even had a chance to spray some water from the fire hose.

We always enjoy opportunities like this to connect with the community and maybe inspire the next generation of firefighters!

08/23/2026

Training in action!

Our newly hired Firefighter/Paramedic, Mike, is spending the day working on hose handling and building the skills needed for success on the fireground.

Welcome to the team, Mike! We’re excited to have you at Columbia River Fire & Rescue.

08/14/2026

Columbia River Fire & Rescue is proud to recognize Firefighters Maria Preston and Chris Roholt for successfully completing their 12-month probationary period and probationary testing.

Over the past year, Maria and Chris have worked hard to develop their skills, demonstrate their commitment to the fire service, and prove themselves as valuable members of our team.

Completing probation is an important milestone in a firefighter’s career, and we’re proud of the dedication and effort they have shown along the way.

Please join us in congratulating Firefighter Preston and Firefighter Roholt on this accomplishment!

08/06/2026

Our Rainier crew spent time training on pump-and-roll operations for wildland fire response.

Training like this helps ensure our crews are prepared to respond safely and effectively throughout fire season.

Thank you to Lieutenant Ridinger and the Rainier crew for putting in the time and effort to keep our personnel ready when it matters most!

07/23/2026

Lightning sparked a wildfire off Harris Road in Deer Island this evening. Columbia River Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) responded quickly and worked together to contain the fire. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all responding crews, the fire was successfully contained.

07/22/2026

This week, Columbia River Fire & Rescue is conducting our Apparatus Operator (Engineer) Academy for our next group of firefighter/operators. Throughout the class, members will receive extensive training in emergency vehicle operations, pump operations, water supply, apparatus positioning, and the many skills required to safely and effectively operate our fire engines.

Becoming a pumper operator is about much more than driving a fire truck. It takes knowledge, precision, and training to ensure our crews have the water and equipment they need when lives and property are on the line.

We're proud of these firefighters for their commitment to professional development and for investing the time to better serve the communities of Columbia River Fire & Rescue.

07/15/2026

Our St Helens crews are currently fighting a quarter acre brush fire off of Old Portland Road. Old Portland Road is currently closed near South 18th. Thank you to ODF, Scappoose Fire and SHPD for assisting.

Address

270 Columbia Boulevard
Saint Helens, OR
97051

Telephone

+15033972990

Website

http://www.crfr.com/

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