Sandy is a community defined by resilience. But living at the gateway to the mountain also means facing real and evolving risks. From rising emergency call volumes to increasing wildfire danger in the wildland-urban interface, the demands on modern fire and EMS services have never been greater. Our responsibility is straightforward: ensure Sandy is ready. Across the district, 2025 was one of the busiest years in our history, with more than 34,000 emergency calls for service.

Before I climb into this month’s topic, an update to last month’s column on park/parking passes. A faithful reader reminded me that you can get a free day-use pass to any of the several Clackamas County Parks, including Barlow Wayside, through our local public library system. To reserve, you’ll need a library card and access to the library web site, www.ci.sandy.or.us/library (click on Cultural Pass Express). Note that your pass must be printed out and displayed on your vehi