Event will provide information about local option levy for emergency services.

The public is invited to attend a Virtual Town Hall on Monday, April 22, at 6 p.m. to learn more about Measure 34-332, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s local option levy that will be on the May 21 ballot. 

Fire Chief Deric Weiss will host the town hall that will be streamed live on TVF&R’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok. Questions about the measure can be submitted during the event.

Measure 34-332 proposes a replacement five-year operating levy with a rate of 69 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If approved, the levy would cost the average homeowner about $210 per year or $17.54 a month.

TVF&R’s existing levy, which was approved in 2019, will not sustain current or future fire and emergency medical service operations and is set to expire in June 2025. Under Oregon law, levies expire in five years or less and require voter approval.

Over the past five years, there has been a 17 percent increase in the frequency of emergency incidents in TVF&R’s service area. The District’s growing community and rising demands require more firefighters and paramedics to maintain reliable emergency response.

If the replacement levy does not pass, funding that pays for at least 92 of 450 TVF&R firefighters and paramedics would be lost and staffing reductions would be required, which may impact response times and reliability. 

If the replacement levy passes, levy funds will retain existing first responders and add 36 more. Additional responders at existing stations will ensure prompt response times and reliability when multiple incidents happen at the same time.

Levy funding will also be used to purchase specialized equipment used for medical emergencies such as cardiac monitors and defibrillators as well as critical firefighting tools, including thermal imagers that aid in search and rescue efforts and self-contained breathing apparatus worn by firefighters in burning buildings. 

With increased wildfire risk and a strained emergency medical system, levy proceeds will also purchase smaller vehicles used to fight wildfire, shuttle water, and transport patients.

Levy funds will allow the District to add personnel who train and equip first responders.

If approved, the replacement levy would appear on the November 2025 property tax statement. TVF&R intends to maintain the same levy rate for 10 years, which will help long-term planning, ensure service stability, and provide predictability to taxpayers.

For more information, call Public Affairs Manager Stefan Myers at 503-649-8577. A video of the town hall will be available on TVF&R’s social media platforms and www.tvfr.com following the event.

Additional Video with Information About the Levy: https://vimeo.com/tvfr/review/935056704/1ea2939606

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Just after 2 p.m. Monday, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue firefighters were dispatched to a reported commercial fire in the 8800 block of Southwest Cashmur Lane in West Slope. Multiple callers to 911 reported seeing gray smoke coming from the roof of the multifamily dwelling. Additional reports said there were occupants still trapped in the building.

En route to the scene, crews reported seeing a large column of black smoke. Upon arrival, crews encountered flames coming through the roof and heavy black smoke billowing from the structure. Firefighters quickly worked to extinguish the fire while also initiating a search of the units for occupants. Crews searched the affected apartment and nearby apartments for potential victims. No other individuals or pets were found inside the units.

The incident was upgraded to a second alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. TVF&R crews were assisted by firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue. Firefighters had the fire under control at 3:20 p.m. Initially, it was reported that four patients were treated on scene and of the four, two were transported to a local hospital for further treatment. In total, seven patients were transported and three patients sought treatment at a local area hospital by personal vehicles.

A TVF&R fire investigator responded to the scene and determined that the fire originated in the lower unit and spread from there. Due to the extensive damage, an extended fire investigation will be ongoing. TVF&R was also assisted on scene by Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies, American Medical Response, Portland General Electric, and NW Natural Gas. The American Red Cross is assisting families displaced by the fire.

TVF&R approves the use of all images included with this release for the purpose of news dissemination.

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