Williams Rural Fire District Support Team

08/10/2026

08/08/2026

Painting party! Support team members are hard at work making signs for the community in support of the Fire Levy on the Ballot this November!

08/08/2026

The Williams Fire District wants to make sure everyone in our community has the opportunity to make a fully informed decision about the fire district levy on the November ballot.

To help, we've created a simple tool that walks you through finding your property's assessed value on the Josephine County Assessor's website. Once you have that information, the tool will calculate your current fire district levy, the proposed levy amount, and the estimated difference between the two.

Levy Cost Estimate Calculator Link: https://arcg.is/91azT

Please keep in mind that this calculator is intended to provide an estimate. For the most accurate results, be sure to include the assessed value of all properties you own within the Williams Fire District, as each property's assessed value contributes to your total estimated levy.

The calculator also helps explain the difference between your property's Real Market Value, Assessed Value, and Appraised Value. These terms are often confused, but they are not the same. Understanding the difference is important because the proposed fire district levy is based on your property's Assessed Value, not its real market or appraised value.

Our goal is to provide clear, factual information so every community member can better understand the current fire district levy, the proposed levy, and what the potential impact may be for their property.

08/01/2026

This morning’s fire is a powerful reminder of why 24/7 staffing at Williams Fire District matters.

Because firefighters were already staffed at the station, they were able to respond immediately. That rapid response helped contain the fire before it could spread into the surrounding wildland during the height of fire season. A delay of even a few minutes could have resulted in a much larger and more dangerous incident for our community.

This is exactly why the upcoming fire levy is so important. The levy will help maintain 24/7 staffing, ensuring trained firefighters are ready to respond when every second counts—not just during the day, but nights, weekends, and holidays as well.

This November, please join us in supporting the firefighters who protect our community every day.

Vote YES on the Williams Fire District levy. Together, we can help keep our community safe.

08/01/2026

Your questions answered! Check out these facts regarding the Fire District Levy-

Where does the money go?

The adopted budget provides funding for firefighter staffing, volunteer recruitment and training, emergency medical response, apparatus maintenance, protective equipment, communications, facilities, utilities, insurance, and the daily operation of the fire district.

Williams Fire District follows Oregon's Local Budget Law, which requires a public budgeting process, public meetings, and opportunities for community participation. The district also complies with Oregon's Public Meetings Law. An independent financial audit is completed annually as required by state law, and the Board of Directors reviews the district's finances during every regular Board meeting. Monthly financial reports are included in the Board meeting packet, and the adopted budget, annual audit, and financial reports are available for public review.

07/29/2026

We will be answering some common questions that we have seen regarding the Fire District Levy on our Social Media page over the next few days.

Why is the district asking for more money now?

Two significant funding sources are ending at the same time: the district's current 65¢ per $1,000 of assessed value local option levy is scheduled to expire, and temporary grant funding that helped improve staffing and emergency response is also ending. The district will continue receiving permanent property tax revenue, but district officials state that permanent funding alone is not sufficient to maintain 24-hour staffing and the current level of emergency service after those temporary funding sources end.

07/21/2026

Our firefighters are an essential part of what makes Williams such a special place to call home.

Every day, they do so much more than respond to fires and medical emergencies. They help neighbors with the unexpected, check on community members, support local events, educate families, and are always willing to lend a hand when someone needs it.

These moments may not make the headlines, but they make a real difference in the lives of the people who call Williams home.

We’re incredibly grateful for the dedicated men and women who serve our community with compassion, professionalism, and a servant’s heart. Thank you for all you do—we appreciate you more than words can say.

07/20/2026

07/17/2026

UPDATE (5:00pm):
The fire has been fully extinguished. ODF Southwest Oregon District is investigating the cause of the fire.

HAPPENING NOW:
Crews are on scene of a 1 acre vegetation fire in the 1100 block of Panther Gulch Road.

Please avoid the area while crews are on scene.