IVFD Awarded Nearly $97,000 from Federal Grant to Enhance Firefighter Safety
The Illinois Valley Fire District has been awarded nearly $97,000 in federal funding through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. This grant will provide critical safety equipment for all district firefighters, strengthening IVFD’s ability to protect lives and property across more than 200 square miles of Southern Oregon. The funding will allow the district to purchase complete sets of NFPA-compliant structural turnout gear, ensuring that firefighters are properly equipped to respond safely to structure fires, wildfires, and other emergencies. Each year, applications far exceed available funding, making this award especially significant for the Illinois Valley community. The district will also contribute a required local cost-share of $4,857. For more information about the Illinois Valley Fire District, call their headquarters at (541) 592-2225. ...Read more

Oregon Turns Over Medicaid Personal Data to Federal Government to Avoid Losing Funding
Oregon health officials have turned over personal data about some Medicaid patients to the federal government as part of a spending probe, according to The Oregonian. This move follows months of debate over privacy and potential federal misuse of health data. Earlier this month, the Oregon Health Authority sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report with data on every adult who used emergency Medicaid services between April and June. The information included Medicaid identification numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid eligibility categories tied to citizenship status, but not immigration status or patient names or addresses. State officials had resisted turning over the data since CMS requested it in June, citing distrust over how federal officials might use the information and highlighting concerns about privacy for Oregon’s immigrant communities. ...Read more

Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District Responded to Two Fires Yesterday, One Fatality Reported

The Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District responded to two separate fires yesterday, the latter of which involved one fatality. At 5:21 p.m. Tuesday, WCRFPD was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Main St. in Wolf Creek. Upon arrival, smoke was showing from the eave. With the assistance of Rural Metro Fire Department, the fire was extinguished and overhauled. ODF Southwest Oregon District, and the Glendale Rural Fire Department also assisted. One victim was pulled from the structure, treated by American Medical Response, and then transported to Three Rivers Medical Center. The fire is under investigation. At 8:42 p.m., while still on scene of the structure fire, WCRFPD was dispatched to a reported grass fire in the 2700 block of Speaker Rd. Upon arrival, a fully involved vehicle was found on its side in a drainage ditch with approximately 1/10 of an acre of wildland in flames. ...Read more