Our Neighborhood Board Supports Bond to Rebuild South Shore Fire Station

Why Old Town Supports Rebuilding the South Shore Fire Station

On January 28, 2026, the Old Town Neighborhood Association (OTNA) Board voted to endorse the City of Lake Oswego bond measure to rebuild the South Shore Fire Station. The Lake Oswego Neighborhood Chairs Committee has also endorsed the bond.

Here’s why this matters to us in Old Town.

The Bond Measure

The City of Lake Oswego plans to place a bond measure on the May 2026 ballot to fund the replacement of the aging South Shore Fire Station.

Purpose of the bond: To build a new, safer, and more functional fire station that can maintain current fire and emergency service levels. The existing building cannot be reasonably rehabilitated.

The current station:

• Is more than 50 years old (built in 1971)

• Lacks a decontamination zone for firefighters exposed to toxins from vehicle and battery fires

• Does not provide appropriate separate housing for men and women

• No longer meets modern safety or operational standards

Cost and Impact

The estimated cost of the bond is $21 million, which is projected to cost the average Lake Oswego household $8–$10 per month over 20 years.

No other Lake Oswego fire stations are expected to need replacement in the near future.

Why This Station Is Critical

The South Shore Fire Station is located at 1880 South Shore Boulevard and primarily serves the southeast quadrant of Lake Oswego. According to the City’s bond website:

“In 2024, firefighters from the South Shore Fire Station responded to 1,106 calls for service, ranging from public service calls to medical emergencies to fire and life safety incidents.”

Without this station, response times in our neighborhood would increase significantly. Firefighters and paramedics would have to come from the downtown station, often delayed by train crossings and traffic.

For a 911 medical emergency, Lake Oswego dispatches two engine teams, meaning 6–7 firefighter-paramedics respond. This rapid, well-staffed response is a major reason Lake Oswego has roughly twice the cardiac survival rate of many other communities. All our firefighters are paramedics. This is rare. So is the impressive survival rate.

That level of service depends on all four fire stations being fully operational.

Rebuilding the South Shore Fire Station is essential to protecting lives, maintaining fast emergency response times, and keeping our community safe.

Our neighbor and OTNA Board Member Jeannie McGuire is fine after a 911 call a few days earlier. She said 7 LO firefighter-paramedics arrived within 7 minutes and took her to the hospital.

What Happens If the Bond Passes

If voters approve the bond, the existing South Shore Fire Station would be demolished and replaced with a new station on the same site.

During construction, a temporary fire station would also be set up on the property, allowing all four Lake Oswego fire stations to remain fully operational throughout the rebuild.

This approach ensures there is no gap in emergency coverage for Old Town or surrounding neighborhoods.

The bond initiative is being led by Chris Durkee, a community volunteer, along with a dedicated team working to provide voters with clear, accurate information.

You can find more details about the bond and the proposed rebuild here:

Lake Oswego Fire Station Rebuild PAC (PAC #24619)

http://www.lakeoswegofirestationrebuild.com

To add your support, add your name to the list of people endorsing this.