Title 38, Protection from Fire

(1) After the public hearing required under ORS 478.480 (2), if the district board decides to proceed with the proposal, it shall submit the question of dividing the district into zones to the voters of the district at the next regular district election on the date specified in O…

(1) When a proposal for dividing a district into zones is approved by the voters of a district, a proposal for changing the boundaries of the zones shall not be submitted to the voters at the regular district election next following such approval, but may be submitted at any regu…

If a district is divided into zones under ORS 478.480 (1), the district board shall determine, make and declare the ad valorem tax levy for each zone when the district board adopts its budget for any fiscal year. The determination of the amount of ad valorem taxes to be levied in…

(1) The electors of a district may initiate proceedings to divide the district into zones under ORS 478.155 and 478.480 to 478.500 by filing a petition with the district board. The petition shall state the name of the district and contain a request that the district board divide …

Funds accruing to a district, located in two or more counties, from any source shall be deposited in accordance with ORS 295.001 to 295.108 and shall be drawn out only upon proper order and warrant or check bearing the signature of those persons authorized to sign warrants or che…

In addition to any other method of initiating proceedings to withdraw territory from a district, the county board may, after appropriate proceedings, order the withdrawal of forestland from a district if: (1) Written request for the withdrawal is submitted to the county board by …

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Annex” means to add lands to a district. (b) “Coverage area” means an area established by a district pursuant to this section that consists of the following: (A) Lands that are included in the district; and (B) Some or all of the lands that are w…

As used in ORS 478.845 to 478.875: (1) “District” means a rural fire protection district organized under ORS chapter 478. (2) “Fire safety system” means any device or system that protects structures or people from damage, injury or destruction by fire or that minimizes the effect…

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any restriction on indebtedness contained in a charter, a city or district may issue and sell revenue bonds under ORS 478.845 to 478.875, loan moneys to qualified persons for the installation of fire safety systems and enter into …

(1) Revenue bonds issued under ORS 478.845 to 478.875: (a) Shall not be payable from nor charged upon any fund other than the revenue pledged to the payment of the revenue bonds. (b) Shall not constitute a charge, lien or encumbrance, legal or equitable, upon any property of the …

(1) Proceeds of revenue bonds issued and sold under ORS 478.845 to 478.875 that are to be used to fund loans to persons for acquisition and installation of fire safety systems in structures owned by the borrowers shall be deposited in a loan fund created for the purpose by a city…

(1) The governing body of a city or district shall adopt standards to determine the eligibility of borrowers to borrow money from the loan fund established under ORS 478.855 for the purpose of acquiring and installing a fire safety system in a privately owned structure owned by t…

(1) Any loan contract providing for a loan of moneys to a borrower by a city or district shall include a plan for repayment by the borrower of moneys borrowed plus interest. The repayment plan: (a) Shall provide that the city or district obtain a lien on the structure in which a …

In addition to any other powers granted by law, a city or district may: (1) Make all contracts, execute all instruments and do all things necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers granted by ORS 478.845 to 478.875, or for the performance of its covenants or duties, o…

If a borrower fails to comply with a contract entered into under ORS 478.865, the city or district may seek appropriate legal remedies to secure any repayment due the loan fund created by ORS 478.855. [1995 c.725 §8] Note: See note under 478.840.

The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: (1) The best interest of the state is served by providing financial incentives for the installation of fire safety systems in multifamily housing. (2) The design and nature of multifamily housing creates a higher fire risk than th…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “District” means a rural fire protection district organized pursuant to ORS chapter 478. (b) “Fire safety system” means a device or series of devices that protects structures from damage or destruction by fire, protects people from injury by fire …

A district board may, in accordance with ORS 198.510 to 198.600, adopt a fire prevention code. [Amended by 1969 c.667 §54; 1971 c.268 §19]

The fire prevention code may provide reasonable regulations relating to: (1) Prevention and suppression of fires. (2) Mobile fire apparatus means of approach to buildings and structures. (3) Providing fire-fighting water supplies and fire detection and suppression apparatus adequ…

The provisions of a fire prevention code adopted by a district after October 4, 1977, shall not apply within any city or county within the district unless the governing body of the city or county approves the fire code by resolution. [1977 c.292 §5]

A district adopting a fire prevention code shall provide plan review at the agency of the city or county responsible for the issuance of building permits for the orderly administration of that portion of the fire prevention code that requires approval prior to the issuance of bui…

When a district has adopted a fire prevention code as provided in ORS 478.910: (1) No person shall violate the provisions of the code or fail to remove hazards found on inspection within the time set by the inspecting officer, after written notice to either the owner or occupant …

(1) No one, within the boundaries of a district, shall cause or permit to be initiated or maintained on one’s own property, or cause to be initiated or maintained on the property of another, any open burning of commercial waste, demolition material, domestic waste, industrial was…

(1) If the fire-fighting apparatus or personnel, or either of a district, are required to respond and be used actively or on a standby basis in connection with the extinguishment or control of a fire that has been started or allowed to spread in willful violation of ORS 478.960 (…

The purpose of ORS 478.970 to 478.982 is to establish a unique identifier for each district to be used for statistical purposes by the State Fire Marshal and in the process of insurance rating. ORS 478.970 to 478.982 do not alter or add to the corporate title or identification of…

(1) When a district is organized, the first board or chief of the district shall request, in writing or via electronic communication, that the State Fire Marshal issue a unique identifier to the district. (2) Except as provided in this subsection, upon receipt of a request from t…

In the event of a consolidation or merger of two or more districts, the State Fire Marshal shall determine a unique identifier for the consolidated or merged districts. [1953 c.164 §6; 1969 c.667 §63; 1971 c.727 §143; 2001 c.426 §4; 2025 c.179 §7]

In the event of a dissolution of a district, the unique identifier assigned to the district may not be assigned to another district. [1953 c.164 §7; 1969 c.667 §64; 2001 c.426 §5; 2025 c.179 §8] PENALTIES

(1) Violation of any provision of ORS 478.930 is a Class D violation. Each day’s refusal to remove fire hazards after notice by the inspecting officer to the owner of the premises where the hazard exists is a separate offense. (2) Burning without a permit required under ORS 478.9…