Banks Fire District #13 was established as a Fire Protection District in 1954, with a proud history dating back to 1913.  The District services 136 square miles with three stations, each 15 miles apart, within four rural communities (Banks, Manning, Buxton and Timber). Our duty is to provide the community with outstanding service to protect the safety our citizens and visitors, as well as their property.  Banks Fire strives to deliver high-quality EMS rescue, fire suppression, fire prevention and public safety education services. 

 

The District is a combination fire protection district located at the eastern base of the Coast Range Mountains; 25 miles west of Portland, Oregon.  Our District is mainly agriculture, timberland, and light industrial with many residential parcels scattered throughout the varying landscape.  In addition, we protect multiple transportation routes, rail lines, communication towers, gas transmission pipelines, water supplies, recreational facilities, commerce and schools.  We protect and provide services to over 8,000 patrons and on average 20,000 daily commuters. We provide rescue coverage to over 60 miles of major highway (State Highways 6, 47 and US 26). 

 

What's unique about Banks Fire is we are currently the only fire district in the Portland metro area that relies almost entirely on a volunteer firefighting/EMS staff.  With 97% volunteers, we are literally the community serving the community.  Banks Fire proudly maintains an impressive response level with highly-trained, caring, first responders while maintaining an open-door hometown station.

 

Banks Fire District #13 participates in community education in the schools, as well as fire & safety education outreach to the public. Every year our volunteer firefighters host a pancake breakfast and Open House for the community.  The District also actively participates in other numerous annual community events including the Banks BBQ, National Night Out, Open Houses, and Career Day at the local High School. In addition, we partner with the Red Cross to host blood drives at the main station multiple times a year. Every December we participate in a Letters to Santa Program, the Banks Christmas Parade, and other neighboring hometown holiday parades. We also welcome our community in for station tours throughout the year having an open-door policy for all.