We are a volunteer fire department serving the communities of Hope, and East Hope and the surround areas. Currently serving the community for Sam Owen Fire is a Fire Chief, 3 captains and one fire boat captain , 1 part time paid fire fighter, 21 volunteers, 3 commissioners, 12 pieces of apparatus, fire boat, and numerous members of the SOS (Sam Owen Support) team.

WE NEED YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUPPORT BEFORE JANUARY 20th 2026

Because of budget constraints and our limited ability to increase our annual budget to fully cover the costs of maintaining our fire boat we have accumulated some deferred maintenance that needs attention.  As a possible solution to accomplish the needed maintenance and upgrades, so we are fully capable of responding to needs on the lake, we are submitting a Waterways Improvement Fund grant proposals to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

The proposal is for the Waterways Improvement Fund  to contribute half the cost of the repairs needed and to upgrade our scene lighting to brighter LED lights and add a  FLUR unit for our search and rescue missions.   It is  important to people out on the lake boating or remote shoreline camping, or those that reside on Warren Island or along the shoreline that when an emergency arises, and they need to call 911, they can depend on someone being on the way to assist.  The Sam Owen Fire District is the only response boat on the lake 24/7 year around as the other agencies such as the Bonner County Sheriff Marine Division and Sandpoint Fire Department that normally assist in responding to lake calls take their boats out of the water late fall and do not return for service until late spring when the lake water level is high.

 You can greatly increase our chances of success if we could obtain your comments to our need to keep a boat available for response. If you can send us an email or letter of support or comment on what we are proposing it would greatly be appreciated.   Letters of support by members of our community and partner agencies are highly regarded in the review process and contribute to the success of getting the needed funding.  Please, send us you comments or questions to our request for the grant; and if you are favor send us a supporting mail.   Comments can be sent to:  chris@samowenfire.org

GENERAL BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS AT STATION 1 LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HWY 200 AND OLD SAM OWEN ROAD IN HOPE, IDAHO

Tuesday and Thurday 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Other hours by appointment

After hours contact the Duty Officer at: 208-304-7822

NO FIREWORKS ALLOWED IN THE SAM OWEN FIRE DISTRICT – Our Fireworks Ordinance provides:

It shall be unlawful for any person to use any Fireworks as defined by Idaho Code 39-2602(3) within the boundaries of the Sam Owen Fire District from June 1st of each year hereafter, commencing as of the date of this Ordinance,until November 1st of each year hereafter, or further resolution of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the District. Violation of this Resolution shall constitute an infraction as provided for in Idaho Code Section 39-2609. Nothing in this Resolution is intended to limit the prosecution of the use of fireworks as a misdemeanor by any authority having jurisdiction under Idaho Code Section 39-2613.

Current Fire Danger:

BURN PILES

PLEASE CALL THE DUTY OFFICER AT 208-304-7822 IF YOU HAVE QUESTION.

LOCAL BURN PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

May 10 through October 20 each year burn permits are required. If you live in the city limits of the cities of Hope or East Hope please contact your city offices for a permit. Outside the city limits the permits are issued by the Idaho Department of Lands. See: https://burnpermits.idaho.gov All permits require you to contact our fire department before starting your burning. We would appreciate a call even when you are burning outside the dates a permit is required so we are aware of your fire. Please phone us at 208-264-5745 or email chief@samowenfire.org and leave a message that you have a permit or that you plan on burning a slash pile and the location you will be burning.

Thank you – the call helps us with false alarms from reports by people who may drive past and see the smoke.

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Please visit our Facebook page for additional community information relating to the department’s activities: https://www.facebook.com/samowenfire