The Holiday Farm Fire, one of Oregon’s most devastating 2020 wildfires, destroyed the entire town of Blue River and its surrounding communities, including more than 700 structures. One person died.
Among the structures destroyed in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire was the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District’s Blue River station and all its equipment, including an apparatus.
The main goals of the project were for the station to be a “beacon of hope” in the area and be designed for fire resiliency using class A, fire-rated materials and California wildfire research specifics.
With the station’s design, UMRFPD wanted to acknowledge the past and reflect the future of what Blue River will become. They UMRFPD sought an identity that was distinguished from its residential surroundings while remaining inviting and warm—but most importantly fire resilient.
PIVOT specified thicker than usual exterior metal panel siding and a standing seam metal roof which is supported by a fire-retardant underlay. There are no gutters on the building or mechanical systems on the roof to prevent debris from collecting and becoming a fire hazard. Utilities to the building were buried and an extended off-grid support was specified. The station is equipped with a generator, which is frequently used due to unreliable utilities as the local utility works with FEMA to restore service.
The two bays are equipped with 14’ x 14’ roll-up doors allowing for aerial apparatus and other vehicles. Connected to the apparatus bays are a shower room and a turnout room with a walk-in dehumidifier closet to dry wet gear and keep carcinogens sequestered.
On the interior, many of the finishes and design decisions were informed by creating a simple, durable, and economical facility. The space includes a training room, a day room, a kitchenette, and an office for the all-volunteer department. Wood decking was used for its structural and aesthetic properties, and medium-density overlay board was selected rather than drywall in the apparatus bays and turnout rooms.
