Frequently Asked Questions
FireMed
How do I join?
It’s easy to become a FireMed member. Stop by the main station at 230 SW Mill Street in Sheridan to pick up an enrollment form, download a form attached to our website, or visit our partner Life Flight (www.lifeflight.org) for enrollment information.
How does FireMed work?
FireMed is not insurance but rather a membership program. If you are transported by ambulance for a medical emergency, we will bill your insurance provider(s), and the rest of the bill will be written off. We will accept what your insurance pays as payment in full. You will not have any additional out-of-pocket transportation expenses.
FireMed is an investment
Your $75 investment for ground-only transport stays right here in our community. Professional training for our paramedics and EMTs is expensive but essential. The equipment we use in the ambulances is also very expensive. We can invest membership fees in our organization to strengthen our services. Hopefully, you will not have a medical emergency and need to be transported, but if you do, we’ve got you covered. An average ambulance transport cost is $2,000 and often includes a deductible or co-pay. FireMed is an easy way to provide peace of mind during unexpected emergencies.
Is there an open enrollment period as in the past?
No, our partner Life Flight administers the program year-round. You can join the program any time of the year. New or lapsed memberships become effective 72 hours after payment has been received.
What if I don’t have medical insurance?
No insurance? No problem! As long as you live in Sheridan Fire District and pay your membership dues, you are covered for emergency transportation.
Does FireMed cover all ambulance transports?
No. FireMed is only for emergent medically necessary ambulance services. We do not provide non-emergency transfers to or from a doctor’s office or when a non-medical agency can transport you or your family member (i.e. wheelchair van, taxi, Uber, or a private vehicle.) When a patient is transported, it is up to our skilled crews to determine the nearest appropriate hospital and take you there.
Does FireMed cover public assists?
No, FireMed is for emergency transportation. Sheridan Fire District does believe that our taxpayers
deserve the best care, and we will come to help you if you or a family member have fallen and need assistance getting up. Remember, although we do not charge for this service, we will charge if you call us often to help you. We want to make sure we are available for emergency calls, and we want to make sure you are in a safe environment.
Who in my household is covered?
A membership covers you, your spouse or registered domestic partner, and all unmarried children under the age of 21 who live in your residence. If you can claim the person on your taxes as a dependent, they can be included. Elderly (65+) or disabled family members residing in the same household are also covered.
What communities are included in the Sheridan Fire District Ambulance Service Area?
The Sheridan Rural Fire Protection District serves 103 square miles in Yamhill and Polk counties. In addition to the City of Sheridan, the communities of Ballston, Buell, Bellevue, and the surrounding areas fall within our boundaries. If you aren’t sure, give us a call.
What if I’m not in Sheridan Fire District when a medical emergency occurs?
Many fire districts and fire departments in Oregon offer FireMed and honor memberships from other agencies. If you are in another ambulance service area during an emergency, ask if they have FireMed and let them know you are a FireMed member with Sheridan Fire District. Areas served by private ambulances, such as the Oregon Coast and the Portland Metro Area, do not offer FireMed, but the vast majority of the state does. (See the attached map on the FIREMED webpage.)
If I need an ambulance, what do I do?
Call 9-1-1! If you are unsure if it is an emergency, call, and our skilled crews will come to check you out and help you make an informed decision. Please do not call the fire station as it will only delay our response
What if I still have questions?
We are here to help you! We try to have someone available to answer the phone from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. But do keep in mind we are an emergency service. If no one answers, we may be out helping someone. Please leave a message, and we will return your call as soon as possible.
Services
What do I need to do to get a driveway inspection? The county said I need to talk to you.
Please call us and we will schedule your driveway inspection. If you have a driveway inspection form from either Yamhill or Polk County, please bring it along for us to sign.
How do I get an address sign? How long does it take? How much does it cost?
Applications for address signs are available on this website. The cost is $50 and includes installation. There is even a link to pay online for this service. How long does it take? We try to order multiple signs at one time. As a result, it may take a several weeks to get the sign installed. We do our best to get them to you as promptly as possible.
My smoke detector keeps beeping even though I changed the battery. (Or I can’t reach my smoke detector to change the battery). Can someone help me?
Please call us and we will send someone out to help you.
Do you fill swimming pools and water tanks?
We do not fill swimming pools and water tanks
Do you offer CPR and First Aid classes? When is your next class? How much does it cost?
Yes, we do offer CPR and First Aid classes. We have staff trained to provide training at the adult, pediatric or professional provider levels. We charge $75 per person. Our goal is to offer classes on a quarterly basis, but we aren’t there yet. Please call and let us know what class you are interested in taking and we will get you on a waiting list.
My husband / wife / mother / father / etc. fell out of bed and I need help getting them up. They aren’t hurt. Can you come help me?
We are glad to help. Just call 9-1-1 and they will dispatch us.
Do you still have chimney brushes that you loan out?
We do loan out chimney brushes. Come by the station and check them out. Do keep in mind that some months–such as in the early fall–there is a higher demand for their use. You can always call and make sure they are available before you come to get them.
General
I have questions about my ambulance bill. Can you help me with that?
We contract out our ambulance billing. Please contact Tactical Business at 855-245-8228 for questions about your ambulance bill.
What do I need to do to become a volunteer?
Stop by the Sheridan fire station at 230 S.W. Mill St. We’d love to meet you, answer your questions, and give you the application and background check forms. The volunteer application is also available on this website if you prefer to complete it before coming to the fire station.
When is the next Pancake Breakfast?
The Sheridan Volunteer Firefighters Association holds a Pancake Feed the fourth Sunday in September at the fire station in Sheridan. Put it on your calendar and come join us!
My neighbor is burning obnoxious stuff in his backyard and I can’t breathe. What can I do?
Your personal safety is the top priority. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your neighbor, go inside and shut the windows. We are limited as to what we can do since air quality is controlled by the DEQ and not the local fire service. Here is a link to the DEQ Nuisance Odor webpage. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Nuisance-Odor.aspx You can file an odor complaint online. https://ordeq-edms-public.govonlinesaas.com/pub/pub-rcd/ordeq/event;tab=basic
I live out of town …or own a business with a locked gate. What can I do to give the fire district access to my property in case of an emergency?
Having access to your property is important in an emergency. If you have a locked gate or commercial property that we may need to access when you aren’t available, we recommend ordering a Knox Box. We can access the key in that locked box to gain entry to your property. Information about Knox Boxes are available on this website.
I just got a letter from a collection agency from an ambulance bill in 2017. I ‘m sure I had insurance at the time. What’s going on with this?
We recommend that you start by contacting the collection agency listed on the letter you received. You can provide them with any insurance information you may have. Once a bill goes to collections, we have no control over it. If there are problems with making payments, we recommend that you contact the billing agency before the bill goes to collections.
I am from a law firm and we need patient records. How do we get those and how much does it cost?
We charge $20 for patient records. We need payment and signed medical information release forms before we can provide them. Fire reports are $20. If photos are included, we charge an additional $50. The request for information forms are available on this website. We can send an invoice for the charges, but at this time we are unable to accept electronic payment for them.
Can I have a campfire/fire pit in my backyard even though it is not burn season?
Campfires and fire pits less than 3 feet in diameter are allowed even when it is not burn season unless conditions exist that make them potentially unsafe — such as during a Red Flag warning or there is unhealthy air quality. Please call the Burn Line at 503-472-3344 before starting any backyard fire to get the most recent information. That information is updated daily. If the date on the recordidng is incorrect, please call us and we will get the updated information for you.
Are you accepting applications for firefighters?
We are always looking for volunteers willing to serve the community. In addition to our main station here in Sheridan, we have two substations–one in Ballston and one in Buell–that depend on trained volunteers. Applications are available online as well as at the front office of the Sheridan fire station. Training is provided both in house and at the county-wide fire academy held twice a year. Stop by and introduce yourself! We’ll be happy to answer your questions.
Who is the fire chief?
Les Thomas is our current fire chief. He took over as fire chief Oct. 1, 2021.
I need to know about sprinkler systems/water storage tanks etc. Who do I need to talk to?
Although we provide driveway inspections and can answer questions about water supply, sprinkler systems and other life-safety inspections must be done by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. Tony Miller is the Field Deputy State Fire Marshal for both Yamhill and Polk counties. He can be reached at 503-779-6094.
I’m planning to hold an event at the Sheridan City Park and this application says I need a signature from the fire district. Can you do that here?
Bring your application form to the Sheridan fire station. We can help you!