SHADY COVE, Ore. (Jul. 20, 2026) — A Shady Cove mechanic is being recognized for volunteering his time and covering the cost of emergency repairs that kept a Dayton Fire engine in service while assisting with the East Evans Creek Fire in Southern Oregon.
Last Friday evening, firefighters assigned to Dayton Fire’s Engine 61 were helping protect homes and property threatened by the East Evans Creek Fire when they discovered the hub seal on the engine’s front axle was missing.
Concerned that dust and debris may have entered the wheel bearings, the crew made a stop at a NAPA Auto Parts store in Shady Cove, where they met local mechanic Dan King.
King recommended the firefighters bring the engine to his shop, where he replaced the wheel bearing and hub seal to help prevent a mechanical failure while the apparatus remained assigned to the wildfire.
According to Dayton Fire, King refused payment for his labor and instructed NAPA to charge the replacement parts to his personal account. He also provided the crew with extra oil to help ensure the engine maintained proper fluid levels before returning to the fire line.
The repairs came after a long workweek, when many people were heading home for the weekend. Instead, King returned to his shop to help the firefighters get back into service.
Dayton Fire publicly thanked King for his generosity, saying his efforts helped ensure crews and equipment remained available to protect the community during the wildfire response.
The East Evans Creek Fire has prompted a large, multiagency firefighting effort in Jackson County, with crews working to protect homes and contain the fire under challenging conditions.
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