Join the Oregon Area Fire/EMS as they welcome Santa into town for the annual tree lighting. View more details and see the poster here.
Adopt-a-Hydrant
We encourage community members to “adopt” a fire hydrant near their homes and keep it clear of snow and ice throughout the winter.
When a qualifying snowfall event occurs we will display a banner across our website, publish a news article, and post on Facebook.
Residents who choose to participate will have 24 hours after the snowfall ends to clear their chosen hydrant. Hydrants should be cleared on all four sides with enough clearance to accomodate fire operations. Refer to the photos on this page for reference on clearance.
Take a photo of your cleared hydrant and submit it to us through Facebook Messenger. Please include the address of your hydrant with your submission.
Children may be in the photo if parents/guardians approve.
Before prizes are awarded, we will verify that the hydrant has been cleared properly. Submitting repeat photos or photos that do not align with the spirit of the event can result in disqualification.
Each round, we'll randomly select a few winners to receive prizes from our generous sponsors: a pizza from Pizza Hut, a value basket from Culver's, and a day pass to the Sleep Inn & Suites pool! 🍕🍦🏊🏼 The exact number of winners will vary based on participation levels and the number of prizes our sponsors can provide.
Culver's has kindly offered free custard for participants who aren't selected for the main prizes. Based on current participation, we expect to have enough custard for all eligible participants. If the program grows significantly (fingers crossed!), custard availability may become limited.
We're thrilled to see this program grow and truly appreciate everyone who helps keep our hydrants accessible!
** Prizes are subject to change, and winning is not guaranteed.


It’s important to note that not all snowfall events will activate the Adopt-a-Hydrant program. Smaller snowfalls may not bury hydrants or may melt quickly enough that there’s no need for clearing. We will only post on our website and Facebook when we anticipate significant snow that could block access to hydrants.
We encourage residents to clear their hydrant anytime they deem it necessary for safety—even if it doesn’t count toward our event.
Only photos submitted during official event activation will qualify for prizes.
In an emergency, every second counts. When fire crews arrive at a scene, having quick access to water is critical to controlling a fire. A buried hydrant can delay this vital connection to the engine. By ensuring your local hydrant is visible and accessible, you’re playing an important role in protecting your neighborhood and helping us do our job faster.
Not only does this support our firefighters, but it also builds community spirit and ensures that everyone—young and old—can contribute to making our town safer. Plus, the opportunity to win prizes adds a little extra incentive to get involved!
We’ll work closely with our sponsors to determine the appropriate number of prizes for each qualifying snowfall event based on community involvement.
Please note that participation in this event does not guarantee a prize.
We appreciate your interest in supporting the Adopt-a-Hydrant program! This is our second year running the program and we are focusing on adapting it based on community participation and overall impact. While sponsorship opportunities were limited this season, we look forward to expanding and working with additional sponsors in the future.
If your business is interested in becoming a sponsor in the coming years, please reach out to our department directly. We would love to discuss potential opportunities to collaborate and enhance this initiative together.
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