McKenzie River Clinic plans to rebuild and expand where former facility stood

BLUE RIVER, Ore. — " It was the most traumatic experience I've ever lived though, to just have a town burn down overnight and to just have all resources gone." says Shawn Dufault Medical Assistant and Volunteer Firefighter.

Two years after the Holiday Farm Fire burned the McKenzie River Clinic to the ground, staff announced a new plan to rebuild and expand.

The McKenzie River Clinic is the oldest rural health clinic in the state, and despite being destroyed during the fire staff continued to serve their 700 patients.

Over the past two years they have been providing services out of a former quilt shop, along with making home visits.

Wednesday they announced plans to build a new facility where the former one stood.

Melanie Stanley a patient at McKenzie Clinic said, "Having to go to town for basic medical services it's quite a challenge especially for people who don't have vehicles sometimes the gas prices are a huge barrier for that so being able to get basic medical services right here close is huge."

With the rebuild also comes new care, as the clinic will expand to provide pediatric care, urgent care and they plan to bring in a behavioral health clinician.

They hope to have the rebuild complete in two years.