Oregon Fire Protection District on Track with $4.2M Fire Station Expansion

The Oregon Fire Protection District is three weeks into its $4.2 million fire station construction and expansion project, and according to officials, everything is running on schedule. The project marks a major step in strengthening local emergency response and supporting the firefighters who serve the Oregon community.

Fire Chief Michael Knoup emphasized that the expansion is designed with his team in mind. “I’ve got nine full-time people that are working for me and they’re my family,” Knoup said. With crews staffing the station around the clock, the need for more modern facilities has become increasingly urgent.

What the Project Includes

The upgrades will provide new office space, expanded living quarters, and larger garage bays that will house additional fire trucks and ambulances. A major part of the project also focuses on consolidation.

“Currently, two blocks down the street, we have another building that we keep our boats in our wild land apparatus, our fire trucks for grass fires. We’ll be able to put those all into one building to decrease our response time,” Knoup explained.

The ability to house all vehicles and equipment under one roof is expected to cut down valuable minutes during emergencies—an improvement that could mean the difference between life and death in critical situations.

Community Confidence

For residents, the project represents not just an investment in infrastructure but a reassurance of safety. Oregon resident Skyler Kelley shared her perspective: “If they’re able to expand their equipment and their department themselves, I feel like that’ll be more beneficiary to the town itself and not just the department.”

The expansion will also give firefighters more modern living spaces, providing comfort for staff during long shifts and helping with recruitment and retention in a competitive field.

Supporting the Firefighters, Serving the Public

Knoup made clear that his motivation for the project extends beyond bricks and mortar. “My goal is to take care of them so they can take care of the general public,” he said. By investing in facilities that support the wellbeing of staff, the district is ensuring that firefighters are prepared and equipped to serve residents at the highest level.

A Broader Context for Public Safety

The Oregon Fire Protection District is not alone in upgrading facilities. Across the country, fire districts are facing growing demand, larger service areas, and more complex emergencies, from structure fires to natural disasters. Many communities are responding by expanding firehouses to keep pace with population growth and evolving safety needs.

In Oregon, the station’s expansion is particularly important because it reduces equipment storage fragmentation. Fire trucks for grass fires, boats for water rescues, and ambulances will now be stored on-site—improving coordination during emergencies and reducing delays.

Looking Ahead

Once completed, the new facility will stand as one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the fire district’s history. It represents a long-term investment in public safety, ensuring that both the firefighters and the community are prepared for decades to come.

With construction moving forward smoothly, residents can expect to see visible progress in the months ahead. For Oregon, the station expansion is more than a construction project—it’s a commitment to resilience, safety, and community trust.

Originally reported by Elizabeth Ippolito in My Stateline.