The Mehama Volunteer Fire Department was formed shortly after a fire that completely destroyed a home in the community. "The house was a complete loss by the time firefighters from the Stayton Rural Fire Protection District arrived on scene", says Gene Coles. Gene Coles was one of several people that were instrumental in starting the department.

Community members gathered together and started the process of putting together a fire department. The formation of the department was entirely a community project and only exists because the community worked together to make it happen. One of the oldest standing traditions of Mehama is the Sweetheart Breakfast that was started to raise funds for the fire department. Originally the breakfast was precluded by a Sweethearts Dance that ended at midnight. The Volunteers would then start cooking breakfast. The breakfast was served from midnight until noon.

The Mehama Volunteer Fire Department was originally housed in a building once used by the Mehama Women’s Club. Community Volunteers remodeled the building in 1952 to accommodate the Fire Department and again in 1970.

The firefighters used a fire engine loaned to them by the State Forestry until they purchased a 1940’s Army Buffalo from the Heater family. The Heater family acquired the fire engine from the Silverton Fire Department to fight field fires.

Currently, the Fire Department is located at 21475 Ferry Road in Mehama on land donated by Young & Morgan Timber Company. The station, built in 1980, has three bays for vehicles, a training room, kitchen and volunteer room.