Harrisburg Fire & Rescue was incorporated on July 1, 1940 as the Harrisburg Rural Fire Protection District. The main purpose of the District at that time was to provide fire suppression services throughout the District. However, as fire departments have evolved, so have the services they provide. Primary duties for Harrisburg Fire & Rescue personnel are now largely related to emergency medical care. Of the 445 responses during 2006, approximately 65% were for emergency medical services. In addition, Harrisburg Fire & Rescue provides a full range of services including, structural and wildland fire protection, hazardous materials response, fire prevention/public education activities and technical rescue services.

The Harrisburg Fire District includes the
City of Harrisburg and the surrounding rural area. The District encompasses approximately 86 square miles, which includes a corridor of Interstate 5, Highway 99E, Southern Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Railroad. The District is bordered by the Willamette River to the west and the Coburg Hills to the east. The community of Harrisburg is situated in the heart of the Willamette Valley and is located in Southern Linn County, the self proclaimed grass seed capital of the world. The City of Harrisburg is centrally located between Eugene and Springfield to the South, Albany and Corvallis to the North. Approximately 5,000 people reside in this rapidly growing community as it becomes a bedroom community to the larger, metropolitan areas.