Redmond, Forest Service agree to new 10-year lease

The city of Redmond and the U.S. Forest Service have completed several important steps to continue partnering to provide wildland firefighting support services at the Redmond Air Center located at the Redmond Airport.

Recently, the city and Forest Service completed a new 10-year land lease for the 51 acres that the Redmond Air Center sits on, following the expiration of the center’s original 50-year lease.

“Extending this longstanding partnership with the USFS has been a high priority for the Mayor and Council – it’s good for the economy and good for the community,” stated Keith Witcosky, Redmond City Manager.

In addition, the city and the Forest Service completed a new 10-year lease agreement for the Redmond Air Center Cache II.

The Redmond Air Center Cache II is part of the Air Center that provides wildland firefighting supplies to all wildland firefighting government agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest, as well as other parts of the nation.

“We are very pleased to have these new leases in place and to work in partnership with the city of Redmond and the Redmond Airport to maintain this critical firefighting support to the nation, “said John Allen, Forest Supervisor, Deschutes National Forest.

The Redmond Air Center, which celebrated its 50 th Anniversary at the Redmond Airport last year, services Federal, State and local wildland fire management agencies.

The Redmond Air Center also supports and manages national shared resources, including smokejumpers, air tankers, an Interagency Hotshot crew and a Training Center. The Redmond Air Center also acts as a Regional and National Incident Mobilization Center (crews, engines, and heavy equipment) and host the Regional Aviation Group (RAG).