The Salem Suburban Rural Fire Protection District (SSRFPD) was created in January of 1973. The Marion-Polk Boundary Commission merged four smaller fire districts to form the SSRFPD. The four districts were Wallace Road, Eola Hills, South Canyon Hills, and Rosedale-Sunnyside. All four had identical contracts with the City of Salem for fire protection service.

A five member board of directors, elected by the public and serving terms of four years, governs the SSRFPD.  The Board of Directors meets every second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m., in the Fire Station 1 main conference room.

The SSRFPD area covers approximately 30 square miles and is divided by the Willamette River. One portion of the District is in West Salem and the other in South Salem. The closest fire stations that respond to SSRFPD are Station 5 (Glen Creek and Parkway) and Station 11 (on Orchard Heights Road near Onyx Street) in West Salem, Station 7 (on Liberty Road South near Boone Road), Station 9 (Battle Creek and Boone Road), and Station 4 (Commercial Street and Alice Street) in South Salem.