Fire Investigators have determined that a fire that occurred on December 25th was started by a child who was living at the home.  The fire was called in just before 4:00 p.m., caused significant smoke and fire damage displacing five adults and six children.  The building was housing “Transcending Hope,” a transitional home assisting those who are recovering and rebuilding from addiction.  The case is now being investigated by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Incident Background

Just before 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 25, 2019, crews were dispatched to 15645 SE Rainier Ave. in Clackamas on a report of a basement on fire.  Firefighters arrived to find black smoke billowing from the home and quickly went to work to extinguish the basement fire that was spreading to the attic. All the occupants of the home were able to escape from the building and no injuries were reported. The Red Cross responded to assist with the relocation of the impacted families. 

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On January 1, 2020 Clackamas Fire District #1 will begin providing fire suppression and emergency medical services to the citizens of Estacada Fire District #69, through an 18-month contract for service in the form of an Intergovernmental Agreement.  Approved by both fire district boards, the contract for service is a result of over two years of collaboration between the two agencies in an effort to find efficiencies in the services that are provided to the community.  Components of this contract for service have been part of an ongoing Intergovernmental Agreement between the two agencies that began in 2015.

Under this contract for service, Clackamas Fire District #1 will provide fire protection and emergency medical services to Estacada Fire District #69 to include adding additional firefighting resources in the form of career and volunteer firefighting personnel. The contract, effective January 1, 2020 provides an engine company staffed with three firefighters per shift with a minimum of one being a paramedic to provide advanced life support (ALS) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   The crews will continue to respond from the Estacada Community Fire Station with the George Road Community Fire Station being supplemented by volunteer firefighters. The contract will additionally provide enhanced fire protection services to the communities of Barton, Boring, Clarkes, Eagle Creek, Highland and Logan communities.  The contract will be carried out at no additional cost to tax payers from either district and will not affect the services currently provided to residents of Clackamas Fire District #1.

On Thursday January 2, 2020 the current Estacada staff, volunteers and career firefighters will be formally sworn in as employees of Clackamas Fire District #1 at a traditional swearing in and promotional ceremony.  The event, complete with the Clackamas Fire Honor Guard and the Clackamas Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band will take place at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas at 7:00 p.m.. 

The details of the contract are available for review at www.clackamasfire.com.

Clackamas Fire District #1 Background Information

Clackamas Fire District #1 provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the cities of Milwaukie, Oregon City, Happy Valley, Johnson City, as well as the unincorporated areas of Barton, Beavercreek, Boring, Clarkes, Carus, Carver, Central Point,  Clackamas, Damascus, Eagle Creek, Highland, Holcomb, Logan, Oak Lodge, Westwood,  Redland,  , Sunnyside, and South End.

Clackamas Fire has 21 fire stations strategically located throughout Clackamas County with a workforce of more than 280 employees and 80 volunteers. It is the second largest fire protection district in Oregon serving over 235,000 citizens in an area covering nearly 235 square miles.

Estacada Fire District #69 Background Information

Estacada Fire District #69 protects 88 square miles and nearly 15,000 residents with two community fire stations. The two fire stations serve the greater Estacada Community responding to over 1,300 calls for service with a work force of 8 career firefighters and 10 volunteers.

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