Rural Metro Fire
Josephine County

Rural Metro Fire provides fire and emergency services to a large area of Josephine County outside the city limits of Grants Pass. You can confirm our service area by calling our office or visiting our enrollment page.

Yes. Our firefighters are trained EMTs. We respond to priority medical calls, accidents, and other medical-related emergencies, often due to being closer than the ambulance.

Visit our community landing page to verify your address or call Rural Metro Fire at 541.474.1218.

Rural Metro Fire offers many payment options.  Our members can choose from: annual, quarterly, and monthly payments.  We also offer an autopay option, for peace of mind that your payments are being made on time.  We recommend signing up for autopay when you enroll as a new member.

*3-year pre-pay options are also avaialble.

Living in an unincorporated community has its benefits, such as a lower cost of living and lower property taxes. However, part of the property tax collected in a municipality pays for public safety like the fire department — and in unincorporated communities, there are no such taxes for fire departments.

Rural Metro Fire is a non-governmental fire department that has provided fire and EMS services in Josephine County since 1979. Instead of tax funding, we rely on annual memberships to provide the professional training, vehicles, and equipment your community depends on. We do not receive any money from the Fire District Assistance Tax listed on your property tax statement — that money goes to other fire districts outside our service area.

What about homeowners' insurance and medical insurance? Homeowners' insurance covers property damage and loss of contents after a fire, and medical insurance covers ambulance transport, but neither covers Fire Department response charges.

What happens if I'm not a member and need help? Non-members are billed for any fire department response, and charges can be significant depending on the resources required:

• Fire suppression: minimum $1,500.00 per hour per firefighting vehicle, plus $150.00 per hour per firefighter ($1,500.00 minimum response charge)

• Emergency Medical Services: minimum $600.00 per call

• Commercial properties are assessed at higher rates.

• An annual membership costs a fraction of a single response charge.

As Rural Metro membership fees are non-refundable; it is the member’s responsibility to work with their title company when selling their home. Title companies may pro-rate your remaining membership fees and credit you at closing.

Wildfire preparation: On flat land, clear brush and debris at least 30 feet from your home (increase that distance if you're on a slope), keep gutters clean, and store firewood and combustibles away from structures. We also recommend having an evacuation plan with two different directions of travel, plus considerations for pets and livestock. Contact the Oregon State Fire Marshal's office for a defensible space review at Oregon State Fire Marshal: Defensible Space.

Smoke alarms: Replace smoke alarms every 10 years and test them monthly. Change batteries at least once a year — pick a significant date you can easily remember (Valentine's Day, July 4, anniversary, etc.).

Yes, when it's safe for our crews. If not, we can often provide referrals (such as professional tree climbers for cats). We are also equipped to resuscitate pets during house fires and other emergencies.

Not within the Rural Metro Fire service area.

During Fire Season, which is typically June-October, open burning is prohibited by the Oregon Dept of Forestry. For the rest of the year, open burning is regulated by Oregon DEQ and Josephine County Public Health. You can check the current restrictions by calling 541.476.9663 each day, or by clicking Wood Burn Advisory

Call our Grants Pass office at 541.474.1218 option 2 during business hours for general inquiries, membership questions, station tours, or safety demonstrations. You can also fill out our contact form and we'll get back to you.

Station tours and safety talks: We welcome community engagement and happily host station tours or send firefighters for safety talks and demonstrations at schools and events. Just give us a call to schedule.

Employment: Annual recruitment for our Reserve Firefighters occurs each Fall. Keep an eye on our social media for announcements, or call our office any time of year to be placed on our contact list.