Prospect Rural Fire District
Jackson County
Request: $45,000
The High Cascades area at the northernmost corner of Jackson County Oregon approx 25 miles from Crater Lake. We have leads on used water tenders from other fire districts, and would love to find a new or nearly new vehicle that could be customized to fit our particular need, rugged gravel roads, steep forest roads with little access or egress. Prospect is an unincorporated area of Jackson County situated in a heavily forested region designated as Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). According to recent studies and mapping by Oregon State University, it is classified as a high-to-severe fire hazard zone. Without the Prospect RFPD, the nearest fire response would be 30–45 minutes away, placing the community at even greater risk.
Established in 1953, the Prospect RFPD relies entirely on volunteer staffing to carry out its mission of preserving and protecting life and property. We support not only our immediate community but also surrounding districts, federal lands, and Crater Lake National Park. With wildfires becoming more frequent, our need for reliable, NFPA-compliant equipment—such as a modern 4,000-gallon water tender—has become urgent. Having water on scene quickly is critical to containing fires before they grow into large-scale wildland incidents.
Prospect sits in the High Cascades Ranger District, surrounded by dense forests, scenic highways, and the Upper Rogue River. The town is just minutes from Crater Lake National Park, which attracts nearly half a million visitors each year. While tourism provides economic benefits, it also brings increased fire risk. Many visitors lack a full understanding of local fire safety rules and may inadvertently contribute to fire hazards through improper campfires, careless cigarette disposal, or poorly maintained vehicles.
In this remote setting—where the closest outside fire response is at least 40 minutes away—Prospect RFPD truly serves as the community’s first line of defense.
We have requested help from OR State Fire Marshall, FEMA, OR dept. forestry, and local charities
