Foundations, Les Schwab Commit $1M to Rural Wildfire Readiness
The statewide effort includes quick-response grants and $100,000 in tires for rural fire agencies preparing for wildfire season.
“We are excited to use our Tires for Purpose program to help make sure our Rangeland Fire Protection Associations are well equipped for safety on and off the road ahead of fire season...Oregon is our home. A safe and thriving Oregon matters to us. Our first responders deserve our support.”
MEDFORD, Ore. — As Oregon moves into the heart of summer and the Fourth of July weekend, a group of Oregon foundations and Les Schwab Tire Centers is putting at least $1 million behind rural wildfire preparedness.
Oregon Community Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Les Schwab Tire Centers and additional anonymous funders announced the partnership Tuesday. The effort includes quick-response grants for organizations working on wildfire preparation and response, along with a $100,000 tire donation program for rural fire agencies.
For many rural fire services, especially volunteer departments and Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, wildfire readiness often comes down to practical needs: reliable equipment, training, supplies and vehicles that can safely reach a fire line.
“Philanthropy doesn’t replace first responders — we work right behind them,” said Kim Koenig, OCF’s Director of Community Programs and Disaster Response.
Koenig said rural firefighters deserve both working equipment and a support system that can move quickly when a fire breaks out. She also noted that disaster recovery does not end when the smoke clears.
“We know from experience that the road to recovery after a disaster is longer than anyone wants,” Koenig said. “Our Disaster Readiness and Response Fund is built to be there for the long haul, from preparation through the long period of rebuilding.”
The tire donation is one of the more direct pieces of the announcement. Les Schwab will provide $100,000 worth of tires through its Tires for Purpose program to Rangeland Fire Protection Associations statewide.
Fire truck tires can take a beating during wildfire response. Long drives over rural roads, rough terrain, heat, heavy loads and extended fire-line operations can create significant wear. For small volunteer agencies, replacing those tires can become a major expense.
“We are excited to use our Tires for Purpose program to help make sure our Rangeland Fire Protection Associations are well equipped for safety on and off the road ahead of fire season,” said Bill Tester, Les Schwab store manager in Sandy. “We’ve grown as a company to more than 600 stores across 15 states, but Oregon is our home. A safe and thriving Oregon matters to us. Our first responders deserve our support.”
The 2025 Rowena Fire in the Columbia River Gorge underscored how quickly wildfire can threaten communities, roads and fire crews across Oregon. The new preparedness partnership was announced at a Troutdale fire station near the gateway to the Gorge, tying the statewide effort to a region already familiar with major fire risk. Photo courtesy Rowena Fire 2025
The announcement was made at Gresham Fire Station #75 in Troutdale, near the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. The location carries its own reminder of wildfire risk. The Gorge was the site of a major wildfire in 2017, and communities across Oregon continue to face the challenge of fires burning closer to homes, roads and populated areas.
Rural departments are not the only agencies preparing. Fire departments in cities and suburban areas also have to be ready for fires where neighborhoods, forests, grasslands and open space meet.
“Wildfires don’t wait until we’re ready,” said Mike Traeger, Assistant Chief of the Gresham Fire Department. “Every tire, every piece of equipment and every hour of training makes a difference when the call comes. Resources like these mean firefighters can respond faster, work more safely and stay on the fire line longer.”
The timing comes as fire officials and community partners look ahead to one of the highest-risk periods of the summer. The Fourth of July holiday weekend has historically brought added fire danger as dry conditions, wind and human activity overlap. This year, officials are also watching drought, a warm winter and low snowpack in parts of the state.
John Bailey, Professor of Silviculture and Wildland Fire at the Oregon State University College of Forestry, said the investment is arriving at an important time.
“This year is shaping up to be a bad fire year,” Bailey said. “We can act now to prevent destructive wildfires, and that’s why this investment is so important.”
The grant funding will support nonprofit organizations and community partners working before, during and after disasters. OCF’s Disaster Readiness and Response Fund is designed to pool donations and move money quickly when needs arise. According to OCF, the fund can support emergency response, fire mitigation, specialized equipment, training, emergency supplies and long-term recovery.
The foundation partners are also part of the Oregon Disaster Funders Network, a group of grantmaking organizations that coordinate resources before and after disasters.
Wildfire preparedness does not end at the fire line. The new statewide partnership is aimed at the support work rural communities often need before, during and long after a disaster, from emergency supplies and training to recovery resources. Image illustration by HiveWire Daily / ChatGPT.
“The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation is proud to stand alongside members of the Oregon Disaster Funders Network to support Oregon communities ahead of wildfire season,” said Meghan Campbell, Program Officer at the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. “Coordinated regional philanthropy has an important role to play in meeting urgent needs before and after disasters, and we are deeply grateful to the first responders who bravely care for and protect our communities.”
For The Ford Family Foundation, which is headquartered in Roseburg and focuses on rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, the effort is closely tied to the realities rural communities face during fire season.
“Rural communities often face the greatest risks with the fewest resources, and the impacts of wildfire can last long after the flames are out,” said Kara Inae Carlisle, President and CEO of The Ford Family Foundation. “That’s why we’re coordinating with partners from the Oregon Disaster Funders Network to support rural communities as wildfire season approaches, so we can mobilize resources quickly and stand ready to respond.”
Quick-response grant applications, tire support applications and donations to the Disaster Readiness and Response Fund are available through Oregon Community Foundation.
Cover image: A new statewide partnership will provide at least $1 million in wildfire preparedness support to rural Oregon communities, including quick-response grants and tire assistance for fire agencies that depend on rugged equipment before the next call comes in. Image illustration by HiveWire Daily / ChatGPT.
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