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Dallas Fire chief: department fully staffed, volunteers crucial; urges passage of HB 3150
Summary
Fire Chief April Wallace reported staffing milestones, training activity and a rise in calls for service and testified in support of House Bill 3150, a $1,000 volunteer firefighter tax credit. The department described volunteer hours, call volumes and training programs.
April Wallace, fire chief for the City of Dallas Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, told the committee the department is "fully staffed at 16" and that all full‑time employees are now dual‑role — trained as firefighter and as either a paramedic or EMT.
Wallace also testified before the Oregon Legislature in support of House Bill 3150, a proposed volunteer firefighter tax credit. "I am here today to express my strong support for House Bill 3150, the volunteer firefighter tax credit bill," Wallace said in her prepared testimony, which she offered to share with committee members.
Why it matters: the department said volunteers remain essential to operations even after professional staffing increases. The proposed tax credit would reduce volunteer firefighters’ state tax liability and supporters say it could help recruitment and retention.
Key details from the update and testimony
- Staffing and response volumes: Wallace reported the department ended 2024 with 5,518 calls for service, an 8.7% increase from 2023; 79% of those calls were EMS related and 21% were fire related. The department is fully staffed with 16 full‑time personnel, and has 19 part‑time firefighters and 28 volunteers.
- Volunteer composition and contribution: Wallace said volunteers include 16 suppression volunteers, seven support volunteers and five chaplains. She told the committee volunteers logged about 4,715 hours last year for training, responses and community events and estimated those services save the community approximately $3.5 million annually.
- Training and programs: Wallace said five flexible schedule employees are in orientation, the department runs an in‑house pump operator course and sent six personnel to Winter Fire School at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. The department also provided vehicle extrication instruction to other agencies.
- Mutual aid and FireMed: Wallace explained the FireMed mutual‑aid relationships with neighboring agencies, and said mutual‑aid providers respond only when requested or when city resources are depleted. She described a recent incident where Sheridan and Corvallis assisted after the city ran multiple calls within a short period.
- Legislative testimony and benefits: Wallace said HB 3150 would provide up to a $1,000 tax credit toward a volunteer firefighter’s tax liability and that the proposal had broad bipartisan support. In her testimony she emphasized volunteers’ time commitment (an average of 205 hours per volunteer per year) and the financial and operational strain of recruitment and retention.
- Health screenings: Wallace said the department is exploring NFPA 1582‑level medical physicals for paid and volunteer staff and may arrange for a provider to offer those exams locally.
What the committee heard
Committee members thanked Wallace for the legislative outreach and asked about FireMed reciprocity and the scope of planned medical physicals. Wallace replied that FireMed coverage is reciprocal but membership and rates vary among neighboring districts and confirmed the department is exploring NFPA 1582 physicals but that the full battery is more involved than current exams.
What’s next
Wallace asked for any feedback on the department’s new report format for weekly updates and offered her written legislative testimony to committee members who requested it. The passage of HB 3150 remains subject to the legislative process.
