Gaston Rural Fire District

Crews from Gaston Fire and throughout Oregon responded over the weekend to the Microwave Fire near Mosier in the Gorge.

Near the very beginning of this video from OregonLive.com you can see Gaston Fire's Brush Rig 11 and three of our firefighters: Lt. Clay Davis, Randy Hoodenpyl and Aaron Miller (the first rig you see is ours).

Their time in the Gorge was paid for by the state and federal government, not directly by Gaston district residents. Gaston does directly benefit from helping out in other areas.

Our firefighters gain valuable experience in fighting massive fires that rarely occur in our own district, but which could at any time. And if such a catastrophe does happen here, we benefit from knowing that departments from hundreds of miles away stand ready to help.

We don't often go as far as the Gorge, but Gaston Fire crews routinely cross over into neighboring districts such as Yamhill, Forest Grove, Cornelius, Washington County District 2 and beyond. Crews from all those districts and more are just as ready to come to our aid at a moment's notice.

Sharing resources helps keep every department's costs down and training level at its peak.