Lebanon Fire District

Emergency Messages as of 7:36 AM, Sat. Dec 13

No information currently posted.

logo

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Lebanon Fire District.

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

Lebanon Fire District Awarded $1 Million Federal Grant To Strengthen Wildfire Preparedness (Photo) - 11/05/25

The Lebanon Fire District has been awarded a $1 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, providing five years of funding to expand wildfire prevention, seasonal staffing, and community resilience programs throughout the Lebanon area.

 

The award is part of a national $200 million investment in 58 community projects announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on September 23, 2025. The grants, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, help at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire risk, protect homes and infrastructure, and advance the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy — restoring resilient landscapes, creating fire-adapted communities, and ensuring safe, effective wildfire response.

 

“This award is a major step forward for our community,” said Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi. “We’ve seen how quickly wildfire danger can escalate across Oregon. This funding allows us to proactively staff and equip our teams, invest in prevention, and strengthen our ability to protect lives, property, and the environment.”

 

A Collaborative Effort Years in the Making

Lebanon Fire District’s successful application was developed in partnership with the Sweet Home Fire District, Linn County, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, the South Santiam Watershed Council, and other local and regional partners. Division Chief John Tacy, who led the effort for Lebanon, said the process took several months and represents a shared commitment to wildfire preparedness across Linn County.

 

“This grant was truly a team effort,” Tacy said. “Sweet Home Fire District took the regional lead, and we were proud to work alongside them, Linn County, ODF, OSU, OSFM, the South Santiam Watershed Council, and our local partners to secure this investment. These funds will directly support Lebanon’s summer staffing, equipment acquisition, and oversight—resources that will make an immediate difference when fire season arrives.”

 

Grant Impact for Lebanon

The $1 million, five-year award will fund:

  • Seasonal staffing — adding four additional personnel during high-risk summer months.
  • Equipment acquisition — upgrading and expanding wildfire suppression tools and protective gear.
  • Supervisory oversight — ensuring effective coordination of wildfire mitigation and community-safety efforts.
  • Community outreach and prevention — enhancing education and engagement on defensible space and fire-safe practices.

A National Investment in Wildfire Defense

Launched in 2022, the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is a $1 billion, five-year competitive initiative designed to help communities and Tribes reduce wildfire risk. The program prioritizes those that:

  • Are in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential,
  • Are low-income, or
  • Have been impacted by a severe disaster in the past decade that increased wildfire risk.

Funding may be used to develop or revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) or to implement projects described in CWPPs less than ten years old. In this most recent funding cycle, the Forest Service received 573 applications requesting more than $1.6 billion from 40 states, three U.S. territories, and 48 Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. Review panels comprised of state forestry and tribal representatives selected 58 proposals totaling $200 million — including the Lebanon Fire District’s project in Oregon.

 

“These grants are about putting real resources directly in the hands of the people who know their lands and communities best,” said Secretary Rollins in the USDA’s national announcement. “By empowering them, we are protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure while securing the future of our great American landscape.”

 

Looking Ahead

Implementation of the Lebanon project will begin in 2026, with seasonal staffing and equipment procurement slated for the coming year. The District will provide updates to residents as the program progresses and will continue working with neighboring agencies to ensure the most effective use of the funds.

 

Chief Rodondi noted that collaboration and forward-planning will remain key: “Wildfire prevention doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s about partnerships, preparedness, and the people who make it possible. This grant is an investment in all three.”

 

More information about the national Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is available at www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants/cwdg

Attached Media Files: Untitled-6-1.png,

Lebanon Fire District Awarded $1 Million Federal Grant To Strengthen Wildfire Preparedness (Photo) - 11/05/25

The Lebanon Fire District has been awarded a $1 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, providing five years of funding to expand wildfire prevention, seasonal staffing, and community resilience programs throughout the Lebanon area.

 

The award is part of a national $200 million investment in 58 community projects announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on September 23, 2025. The grants, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, help at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire risk, protect homes and infrastructure, and advance the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy — restoring resilient landscapes, creating fire-adapted communities, and ensuring safe, effective wildfire response.

 

“This award is a major step forward for our community,” said Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi. “We’ve seen how quickly wildfire danger can escalate across Oregon. This funding allows us to proactively staff and equip our teams, invest in prevention, and strengthen our ability to protect lives, property, and the environment.”

 

A Collaborative Effort Years in the Making

Lebanon Fire District’s successful application was developed in partnership with the Sweet Home Fire District, Linn County, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, the South Santiam Watershed Council, and other local and regional partners. Division Chief John Tacy, who led the effort for Lebanon, said the process took several months and represents a shared commitment to wildfire preparedness across Linn County.

 

“This grant was truly a team effort,” Tacy said. “Sweet Home Fire District took the regional lead, and we were proud to work alongside them, Linn County, ODF, OSU, OSFM, the South Santiam Watershed Council, and our local partners to secure this investment. These funds will directly support Lebanon’s summer staffing, equipment acquisition, and oversight—resources that will make an immediate difference when fire season arrives.”

 

Grant Impact for Lebanon

The $1 million, five-year award will fund:

  • Seasonal staffing — adding four additional personnel during high-risk summer months.
  • Equipment acquisition — upgrading and expanding wildfire suppression tools and protective gear.
  • Supervisory oversight — ensuring effective coordination of wildfire mitigation and community-safety efforts.
  • Community outreach and prevention — enhancing education and engagement on defensible space and fire-safe practices.

A National Investment in Wildfire Defense

Launched in 2022, the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is a $1 billion, five-year competitive initiative designed to help communities and Tribes reduce wildfire risk. The program prioritizes those that:

  • Are in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential,
  • Are low-income, or
  • Have been impacted by a severe disaster in the past decade that increased wildfire risk.

Funding may be used to develop or revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) or to implement projects described in CWPPs less than ten years old. In this most recent funding cycle, the Forest Service received 573 applications requesting more than $1.6 billion from 40 states, three U.S. territories, and 48 Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. Review panels comprised of state forestry and tribal representatives selected 58 proposals totaling $200 million — including the Lebanon Fire District’s project in Oregon.

 

“These grants are about putting real resources directly in the hands of the people who know their lands and communities best,” said Secretary Rollins in the USDA’s national announcement. “By empowering them, we are protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure while securing the future of our great American landscape.”

 

Looking Ahead

Implementation of the Lebanon project will begin in 2026, with seasonal staffing and equipment procurement slated for the coming year. The District will provide updates to residents as the program progresses and will continue working with neighboring agencies to ensure the most effective use of the funds.

 

Chief Rodondi noted that collaboration and forward-planning will remain key: “Wildfire prevention doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s about partnerships, preparedness, and the people who make it possible. This grant is an investment in all three.”

 

More information about the national Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is available at www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants/cwdg

Attached Media Files: Untitled-6-1.png,