Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley (D- OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), announced today that the Senate Military Construction Appropriations bill includes $7 million to build a new fire station at Kingsley Field, in Klamath County. The new facility will be the primary fire rescue response unit for both military and civilian aviation thanks to an agreement between the military and the Klamath Falls Airport.
The Air Force recently announced that all active-duty F-15C training would be consolidated at Kingsley Field, increasing the number of airmen flying out of the base. The current fire station at Kingsley Field is rife with safety hazards, and does not provide adequate training facilities or sleeping quarters for the growing National Guard base and neighboring airport.
“Members of the Oregon Air National Guard put their lives on the line for Oregonians every day,” said Merkley. “The very least we can do is ensure that their work and training facilities are safe and meet their needs. These funds will replace an inadequate fire station with one that will give our service members the resources to do their jobs to the best of their ability.”
“Upgrading the facilities at Kingsley Field will make sure that the uniformed men and women operating at the air field can work in safe conditions and provide support for a growing military and civilian airfield,” Wyden said. “This funding will also pump resources into the local economy by creating jobs building the facility and improving the local community’s infrastructure.”
The $7 million in the bill will be used to replace the current fire station at Kingsley Field with one that will provide service members with the space and resources needed to complete mission requirements in a safe and timely manner.
The Military Construction Appropriations bill must still pass the full Senate, be merged with a companion bill from the House, and be signed by the President before it becomes law and the funds become available.
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