Shovels Hit the Ground as Hoodland Fire Launches New Station Project

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times

With shovels in the ground and more than 100 residents looking on, Hoodland Fire District officially broke ground April 4 on a new main fire station in Welches, launching a project funded by voter approval last November.

The 24,000-square-foot facility will serve a roughly a 45-square-mile area of the Mt. Hood corridor and is expected to improve emergency response and interagency coordination, including with the U.S. Forest Service.

The event drew a strong local turnout on a sunny spring afternoon, with families, neighbors and community members gathering at the site. Children were among those in attendance, many receiving small fire hats and toys from staff, while residents expressed excitement about the future of the new station and what it will mean for the area.

“This project represents a long-term investment in the safety and resilience of our community,” Hoodland Fire Division Chief Scott Kline said. “We are grateful to our voters and partners for making this vision a reality.”

Local leaders and project partners took part in the ceremony, which included remarks and a ceremonial turning of dirt to mark the start of construction.

Kline said the district is still awaiting final permits before major work can begin.

“We’re still waiting for permits, and we hope to see those in the next week or so,” he said. “Once that starts, we should be about 14 months out.”

Once complete, the new station will replace an aging facility and bring updated infrastructure designed to meet modern seismic and emergency response standards. Kline said the transition to the new site is expected to be straightforward, with plans in place for the existing property.

“The board wants to sell the old property once we’re out,” he said.

The project is being completed through a partnership between Hoodland Fire District and several firms, including Mackenzie as design firm, Inline Construction as construction manager and general contractor, and Otak handling project management.

Alex Cettie, project manager with Otak, said the collaboration has been a positive experience.

“This community and the fire department have been just wonderful to work with,” Cettie said. “We have a great opportunity. We love being part of all of this.”

She added that projects like this carry particular meaning for the design team.

“It’s always exciting for us to get a brand new fire station,” he said. “The Hoodland Fire team is so deserving of a healthy and safe facility for all the work they do.”

Cettie said Mackenzie is proud to be part of the effort to bring the new station to life in the Hoodland community.

The site itself also carries local significance. It was previously part of the Clackamas County parks system, and home to a community building named for longtime Hoodland-area supporters, the Dorman family. The property was transferred to Hoodland Fire District at no cost, reflecting continued cooperation between the county and the district.

The groundbreaking also comes during a milestone year for the district, which will mark 60 years of service in 2026.

Construction is expected to continue through 2027, with major milestones planned over the coming year.

When complete, the new station will strengthen emergency response across the Mt. Hood corridor and support coordinated operations with the U.S. Forest Service.