Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Skip to main content

Media Release: Fire District 3 & Fire District 5 Sign Agreement to Combine Personnel and Equipment for Stronger Regional Service

Media Release: Fire District 3 & Fire District 5 Sign Agreement to Combine Personnel and Equipment for Stronger Regional Service

Fire District 3 & Fire District 5 Sign Agreement to Combine Personnel and Equipment for Stronger Regional Service

White City, Ore. (Oct. 22, 2026) – The Boards of Directors of Jackson County Fire District 3 and Jackson County Fire District 5 are pleased to announce the execution of an expanded Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) combining operational services of the two agencies. The agreement builds upon the shared management services agreement established in 2024 and reflects the continued collaboration between the districts. The agreement becomes effective January 1, 2027.

Under the new agreement, Fire District 3 will provide all emergency response and support services within the Fire District 5 service area. Service levels will be consistent with those provided throughout Fire District 3, including emergency response, fire prevention, public education, and risk reduction programs. Existing mutual aid agreements will remain in place and continue to support regional efforts.

While operational functions will be consolidated, both agencies will remain legally separate entities governed by their respective elected boards. Fire District 5 will reimburse Fire District 3 for the cost of services provided, while any remaining debt obligations of Fire District 5 will remain the responsibility of Fire District 5. Services currently provided within Fire District 3's boundaries will remain unchanged and unaffected by the agreement.

To support this transition, all Fire District 5 employees and apparatus will transfer to Fire District 3. Fire Chief Mike Hussey credited the success of the agreement to the collaboration between firefighters, labor organizations, and district leadership.

"The collaboration and professionalism shown throughout this process have been outstanding," said Hussey. "Our labor groups worked together to create a smooth transition that protects employees while strengthening service for our communities."

Brady Graham, President of IAFF Local 2596, said the agreement represents years of collaboration, planning, and a shared commitment to firefighter safety and community service.

"This agreement represents an exciting and significant step forward for our firefighters and those that we serve," said Graham. "We are proud to support a shared vision that prioritizes firefighter safety and strengthens our collective ability to serve our communities while ensuring firefighters have the personnel, resources, and support necessary to operate safely and effectively."

To read the full statement from IAFF Local 2596 President Brady Graham, visit:
www.jcfd3or.gov/news-and-notices

The elimination of duplicative functions and the consolidation of resources will create operational efficiencies that can be reinvested into service delivery. These efficiencies will support the reopening of Station 4 and the expansion of staffing levels across the Fire District 5 service area.

Beginning in mid-May 2027, all three Fire District 5 stations will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This enhanced staffing model will be achieved through the hiring of additional personnel and the successful graduation of academy recruits in early May.

According to Fire District 5 Board Chair Greg Costanzo, the agreement ensures residents will benefit from expanded resources while maintaining a local focus on service delivery.

"I am extremely proud to enter into this long-term partnership with Fire District 3," said Costanzo. "Residents of Fire District 5 will benefit from expanded services, improved communication, and a stronger, more resilient emergency response system for years to come."

The agreement allows personnel and equipment to be deployed more efficiently across both service areas while strengthening regional emergency response capabilities.

Fire District 3 Board President Harvey Tonn said the agreement reflects the organizations' long-standing commitment to collaboration and public service.

"This is ultimately about people coming together to serve our communities more effectively," said Tonn. "The trust and teamwork shown by both organizations have made this milestone possible, and I am excited about what comes next."


> Link to PDF of the Media Release

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Full Statement from Brady Graham, President, IAFF Local 2596 below:

This agreement represents an exciting and significant step forward for our firefighters and those that we serve. On behalf of IAFF Local 2596, we are proud to support a shared vision that prioritizes firefighter safety and strengthens our collective ability to serve our communities. As firefighters, we recognize the importance of having the personnel, resources, and support necessary to operate safely and effectively. This transition builds upon that commitment and reinforces the confidence we have in one another when answering the call.


Nearly two years of preparation, collaboration, and dedication have helped bring us to this point. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this process and helped lay the foundation for a successful transition.
Our fire districts each bring a proud history of service, experienced personnel, and unique strengths to this partnership. Those different backgrounds and experiences are not what separate us, but rather what make us stronger together. We share the same values, the same commitment to our communities, and the same responsibility to one another. As we move forward, we do so with the understanding that our individual accomplishments and traditions are becoming part of a shared future, built upon the strengths of both organizations.


As our members prepare to formally become part of IAFF Local 1817, we do so with pride in our history, gratitude for the relationships we have built, and genuine excitement for the opportunities ahead. We already recognize our fellow firefighters as brothers and sisters, united by a common purpose, and look forward to continuing to strengthen those relationships as one organization.


Entering this next chapter, we carry forward the dedication, professionalism, and commitment to service that have long defined our firefighters. We are proud of what we have accomplished, grateful for the opportunity before us, and committed to building a stronger, safer, and more unified fire service for the communities we are honored to protect.


 

-----------