North Bend fire chief details grants, drone team and rising call volume in 2025 annual report

The North Bend Fire Department on Monday presented its 2025 annual report to the City Council, listing several grant awards, program expansions and an increase in emergency calls.

“We're protecting our community through preparedness, response, and partnership,” the Fire Chief said, summarizing the department’s priorities as he outlined recent funding and operational developments. Among grants cited were an $18,000 emergency-management drone purchase, a $19,270 motorized sandbag machine and a $2.5 million Business Oregon award to fund a seismic upgrade at the fire station.

The chief also reported a $250,000 wildfire-mitigation award from the State Fire Marshal’s office that enabled mitigation of roughly 30 acres within city limits, and smaller grants — including $35,000 for summer staffing, $10,000 from the 3 Rivers grant program and an $8,500 Coquille Tribal grant — that reduced pressure on the city’s general fund, he said.

The department has established a drone team, the chief said, with four drones acquired through grants and donations and four certified pilots that include a police-certified operator. “We have 4 drones,” he said, noting uses such as search-and-rescue, structure-fire reconnaissance and wildland-fire mapping to direct responses.

Officials emphasized workload and training. The chief said total responses increased 2.8% in 2025 over 2024 and about 22% compared with 2019, and that the department handled multiple structure fires last year, including one that produced a fatality. He attributed some fluctuations in call volume to local policy changes and demographic trends, including an older population and assisted-living facilities that generate more medical calls.

On emergency medical response, the chief described a tiered system with Bay Cities Ambulance assigned by county ambulance service areas; North Bend personnel provide initial life-saving interventions and Bay Cities provides advanced care and transport to Bay Area Hospital. The chief said the city does not hold a direct contract with Bay Cities but operates within county-assigned service areas.

Council members asked for clarification about the department’s summer staffing program and what types of events fall into “other calls.” The chief said that category covers non-fire, non-EMS responses — such as animal rescues, rope rescues and unusual entrapments — and explained that summer positions help with hydrant maintenance while keeping local college students available for response.

The chief described volunteer staffing as an ongoing challenge: the department currently lists roughly 20 volunteer firefighters, down from prior levels, and he said recruitment and societal changes have reduced volunteer availability. He said training and strategic deployment — including lighter rapid-response vehicles — help reduce wear on heavy equipment and control costs.

The council offered thanks; the chief said the full report will be published online and noted he will present at an upcoming Leadership Cruise. No formal council action was taken Monday.