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Junction City fire chief warns of extended burn restrictions, announces recruits and EMS coverage improvements
Summary
Fire District representative Brandon Nichols reported an extended backyard-burning restriction (through at least Oct. 15), urged heater and space‑heater safety, announced five new volunteer recruits entering a six‑week academy with a training burn planned, and described Lane Fire Authority adding a dedicated medic (Medic 125) to reduce EMS response times.
Brandon Nichols, speaking for the fire district, told council the area remains in an unseasonably dry October and the Lane Regional Air Pollution Agency and Western Lane Forestry District had pushed open‑burning restrictions for backyard burning out to Oct. 15. He urged residents to check local burn‑day status before burning and to call 911 if they see thick smoke.
Nichols cautioned that heating season brings a spike in space‑heater and first‑time furnace use, advising homeowners to vacuum out wall‑mounted heaters and keep portable heaters on a circuit that can handle the load and a three‑foot clearance from combustibles. "If you do see thick smoke, absolutely give 911 a call," Nichols said.
He also announced the fire district has five new volunteers enrolled in a six‑week recruit academy that will include a live training burn at an old trailer‑sales building. Nichols noted Junction City is not a transporting agency and described coordination with Lane Fire Authority, which is adding a single‑role medic unit (Medic 125) to improve daytime EMS coverage — he estimated about 68% of calls fall within peak hours that unit will serve.
Why it matters: the extended burn ban affects resident activities, heating‑season safety advice can reduce false alarms and fires, and the addition of a dedicated medic unit is expected to lower ambulance wait times for local patients.
