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TVF&R reports about 4,900 calls in Newberg in 2025, previews wildland season and new EMS programs
Summary
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue officials told county commissioners they handled roughly 4,900 calls in Newberg in 2025, are training for an uncertain wildland season, expanding community paramedic outreach and piloting nurse-navigation and a firefighter-wellness program.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) leaders briefed the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners on April 30, saying the district handled "about almost 4,900 calls in 2025" in Newberg and that emergency medical service calls continue to make up the bulk of their workload.
"EMS is typically about 80 plus percent of our call volume," Ryan Smith, representing TVF&R in the presentation, said, describing a downtown Newberg concentration of calls driven by care homes and higher population density. Smith said dispatch triage commonly results in reclassification once crews arrive on scene.
The district outlined preparations for the upcoming wildland season after an Oregon Fire Marshal report raised concerns about conditions. Smith said TVF&R runs refresher block training for crews and maintains a specialized wildland team that can be deployed out of district to neighboring states when needed. "We're preparing for worst case scenario," he said.
TVF&R also described several programs intended to reduce unnecessary 911 transports and better manage EMS demand. Advanced practice community paramedics (APCP) add to high-acuity calls and conduct scheduled outreach to known high utilizers to connect them with services and reduce repeat 911 use. TVF&R said APCP work has already produced measurable reductions for some frequent callers, though full data were not presented at the briefing.
A nurse-navigation telemedicine vendor is being used as a triage alternative when appropriate: dispatchers can refer callers to a nurse who can provide guidance or re-escalate the call back to 911 if needed. Smith said the nurse-navigation pilot has been in place about a year and is showing early positive results.
Chief Brian Smith and public affairs staff (recorded in the meeting as Bren/Karen Hanning) also reviewed capital projects funded by the district’s 2021 bond, including full rebuilds at King City Station 35 and Newberg Station 20. Smith said temporary response arrangements are in place while construction proceeds and that new stations are being designed with hot/warm/cold zones to reduce firefighter exposure to contaminants.
On firefighter wellness, TVF&R described its "Struggle Well" program in partnership with the Boulder Crest Foundation, delivering two- and four-day workshops aimed at addressing trauma and PTSD. "Success is having them stay on the job because they want to stay on the job," Smith said, adding that about 40–45% of staff have completed the training and the district plans to push toward completion for all personnel. The district said it intends to seek state funding to expand the training to additional first-responder partners.
The briefing closed with short Q&A about a planned rural station property at Dopp Road and North Valley (purchased, with estimated service from that location in roughly two years) and earlier-mentioned capital and operational matters. Commissioners did not take action on any TVF&R items during the presentation.
The board's next scheduled session will include regular departmental updates and any additional follow-ups TVF&R provides on data showing program impacts.
