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New Forestry office in Sisters boosts fire response, customer service
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Contact:
Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols@odf.state.or.us
Location, location, location: The familiar realtor’s slogan also applies to Department of Forestry field offices. Back in 1939 when the Sisters sub-unit office was built, it lay outside the urban growth area, enabling firefighters to make quick runs on reports of fire. But the town eventually grew around it, slowing down fire engines as they negotiated residential and business areas.
“In a typical fire season, we respond to more than 100 wildfire incidents out of this location,” said Assistant District Forester Kristin Cotugno [‘co-tug-no’].
The wildfire-response bottleneck was cleared in January of this year with the dedication of a new ODF office two miles east of town on Highway 126. Away from residential concentrations, the engines can now roll immediately on fire calls.
Designed by BBT Architects, Inc., of Bend, the new 6,100-square-foot facility consolidates administrative and warehouse functions into a single building, improving efficiency and customer service. The $1.9 million to build the new Sisters office came from the “Go, Oregon!” stimulus fund and Certificate of Participation (COP) dollars. Go, Oregon! Is a state stimulus program authorizing the sale of bonds to fund important capital projects at public facilities throughout Oregon. COP funds are similar to a mortgage. ODF will pay six percent on the COP dollars it received.
Cotugno said the old building had exceeded its lifespan, and was costing more and more to repair. Also, there wasn’t enough space to accommodate current business needs.
“The new facility and new location will help us improve our efficiency and effectiveness in protecting Oregon’s Forests,” she said.
The new Sisters ODF office is located at 16721 Pine Tree Lane.
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