Gaston Fire responded to a call to investigate smoke on Patton Valley Road on Oct. 1, 2008. Chief Roger Mesenbrink and Lt. Clay Davis immediately recognized a potential danger and secured a 300-foot perimeter around a cloud of orange gas.
Fire destroyed a barn and spread to about two acres of grass and brush on NW Turner Creek Road at 12:29 p.m.
Many of us in the Gaston area use woodstoves or fireplaces for some, or even all, of our home-heating needs. That makes safety even more critical. Here are some tips from the U.S. Fire Administration.

With a staff of just four paid employees, the Gaston Rural Fire District is charged with protecting more than 6,000 residents in Washington and Yamhill counties, not to mention the thousands more who visit Henry Hagg Lake and the bustling wineries in the area.

Wildfire chars private, public land near Cherry Grove. Forest Grove News Times. Here's raw video of the fire from KPTV.
It takes generations to serve and eat all the flapjacks at the annual Gaston Fire Pancake Breakfast.

Ron Hoodenpyl served as Chief of Gaston Fire for 46 years. At his side the entire time was his wife, Corky. His story is a Gaston Fire legend.
So it's appropriate that Ron and Corky would serve as Grand Marshals of the 2008 Gaston Good Ol' Days Parade. It's also appropriate that at their side would be son Chip, a volunteer since 1969 and currently assistant chief.

At 2:45 p.m. on Friday, November 25, 1983, Chief Ron Hoodenpyl was driving home from Forest Grove when he heard the unthinkable: The Gaston Fire station was on fire.
After racing to the scene, the chief found Engine 1172, then less than a year old, engulfed in flames.
National Night Out gave Gaston a chance to party.