With the $2.2 million in revenue from the 2014 levy, Bend's Fire Department made many changes to how it serves our community. Response times are dramatically reduced and lives saved. Fire vehicles are smaller and quicker. Big engines no longer have to respond to a cardiac arrest call.
Police cars are also equipped with defillibrilators increasing the vehicles that can respond to emergency calls.
Chief Langston told BANA members other fire departments across the nation are looking at Bend's innovations to learn how they can improve. He is proposing to extend the current levy which will expire in 2019 for another four years. The funds will permit the department to maintain staff and equipment to serve a growing City.
The fire department serves areas outside of the Bend city boundaries as well.