Faster, Hotter, Bigger

Longtime Fire Chief Changes the Fight Against Disaster

Story and photos by Drew Myron

Over nearly 50 years, Eugene Walters has fought roughly 1,500 fires. He’s noticed a dangerous change.

Years ago, most fires were easily contained, and even the most wind-driven flames would be reduced to a few acres, he says. Now, every blaze burns more urgently.

“As the years progress, the fires move faster, get hotter and are harder to stop,” says the longtime fire chief for Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District.

“Years ago, we would get a call for a wildland fire, and it was no big deal,” Eugene says. “We’d just go put it out or let it burn because we had these huge, baredirt summer-fallow fields that made great fire fuel breaks. Farmers would plant crops in 1 field 1 year, then the next year it would be summer fallow. Those fields made the best breaks for control lines we ever had, better than roads or rivers because they were wider, with no trees, brush or grass.”

Due in part to new federal conservation and farming programs, fields are in near-constant cultivation, which creates tall, flammable plants and easy-to-ignite stubble.

Changes in farming practices— combined with a withering number of volunteers—have created a dramatic shift in wildland firefighting techniques. In response, Eugene has retooled the remote fire district with advanced fire trucks, sophisticated technology and rigorous review of every fire event.

Small but mighty, the department is considered an innovative leader for its advanced fire-response systems.

“Most rural departments don’t have anything like Eugene’s trucks and technology,” says Don Tschida, fire operations supervisor for Bureau of Land Management and Rangeland Fire Protection Association. “He’s always looking for a better way to do things. He’s done a lot of firefighting and innovation. The community has better equipment that can help fight the fires and fight them safely.”

Born and raised in Pine Grove, Eugene grew up and still lives on the family ranch 2 miles from the fire station. For 50 years, he owned and operated Walter’s Corner, a convenience store and community gathering spot initially owned by his parents. In 2022, Eugene sold the store.

Eugene was only 21 when he helped create Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District. He’s been at the helm for 47 years.

Established in 1976, the fire protection district covers 93 square miles that include the communities of Pine Grove, Wapinitia and Juniper Flat, as well as Maupin, Tygh Valley, Pine Hollow, Wamic and Shaniko, as needed.

With a crew of 14 volunteers, the district protects 3 Bonneville Power Administration distribution lines, a BNSF railroad line, a stretch of the Deschutes River, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife lands, and numerous homes, farms and families.

In the beginning, the district operated out of Walter’s Corner and had just 1 1943 engine. Now it operates 3 fire stations and 15 vehicles that include engines, heavy brush trucks, tenders and an ambulance. Eugene has meticulously modified or rebuilt each vehicle to fit wildland fire needs and spends countless hours securing federal and state funding for equipment. He also recruits, trains and manages volunteers.

Times have changed, Eugene says. Blazes are no longer battled on the ground with long hoses and heavy suits. Unlike in the movies, you will never see a firefighter hang off the back of a truck. Instead, a complex interior control panel allows a single driver to fight a fire without leaving the vehicle. In this arid grassland setting, a fire can move a mile in fewer than 10 minutes, and a solo firefighter often operates each truck.

“Our fires move too fast,” Eugene says. “We fight from the cab. Out here, with wildland fires, we play a different game. We had to make changes to our firetrucks and develop new tactics to battle these new types of wildland fires. We hit them hard, keep them small and don’t let up.”

Working with fewer volunteers, Eugene has embraced technology to fill the gaps. Fire engines are equipped with increased water capacity and advanced bumper nozzles to drive water penetration from all angles. Each vehicle is outfitted with headsets for immediate communication among stations and vehicles, and GPS systems increase response and travel times.

Infrared cameras allow firefighters to see through smoke. Drones provide clarity in uncertain conditions and assist in training. Dashcam videos are essential tools when debriefing each incident.

“Eugene has taken it to another level,” says Jerry Duling, board president for Juniper Flat Fire District. “He’s sharp, dedicated and very precise. He’s dedicated his life to our fire department. He could make big money in a bigger fire department or as a fire engineer. But he loves it here. He’s a 1-man show: chief, mechanic and bottle washer. We joke that if there’s a fire, Eugene will be there and put it out before we get there.”

At 68, Eugene has an eye toward retirement.

“I’ve fought so many fires, and I’m trying to pass it on,” he says.

But his exit may be a slow one. Like fire departments across the nation, Juniper Flat struggles to recruit volunteers. There’s no easy replacement for Eugene.

“I grew up with the old morals, where everyone helped everyone,” Eugene says. “Everybody was a volunteer firefighter. I can remember when we would have a large fire, and then in the next fire training, 100 local people would show up.

“That does not happen today. People are busier now. They have kids and sports, and they are on the run. Community service is not a high priority.”

Visit the Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District website to learn more or volunteer.