Nestucca Fire – Building Strength, Skills, and Community Readiness

The Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District (NRFPD) protects a primary response area of 125 square miles but routinely responds across more than 300 square miles of South Tillamook County. With six fire stations and over 60 members, including career, resident, and volunteer firefighters, as well as CERT members, NRFPD is a strong, resilient, and highly trained organization dedicated to protecting lives and property.

Our district covers rugged coastal terrain, rivers, bays, mountains, and highways. These challenges require firefighters to maintain a high level of readiness in fire suppression, rescue operations, and emergency medical response. Every day, our members demonstrate their dedication to this mission through calls for service, community engagement, and continuous training.

The concept of the “Golden Hour” is well-known in emergency medicine. It refers to the critical first 60 minutes after a traumatic injury, during which rapid stabilization and transport to definitive care offer the best chance of survival. While the exact 60-minute timeframe is not an absolute rule, the principle remains clear: speed saves lives.

For our rural community — often more than 30 minutes from the nearest hospital — NRFPD’s ability to provide advanced care and technical rescues in the field is essential. This is why we invest so heavily in training, equipment, and specialized certifications.

NRFPD conducts over 500 hours of training classes annually. To coordinate this level of instruction for more than 60 members, the district employs a dedicated Division Chief of Training. Our firefighters complete an average of 200–300 hours per year in certified classes and drills.

Annual skills evaluations, currently underway, include:

These evaluations ensure that every firefighter — including chiefs — maintains proficiency, fitness, and certification. Chiefs train and test alongside the crews, reinforcing a culture of accountability and shared strength.

Beyond in-house training, we encourage members to pursue higher education and outside training, ensuring that NRFPD continues to grow in skill, knowledge, and service capacity. Training together and sharing knowledge builds resilience not only within the fire district but across the entire community.

Through training, community partnerships, grants, and innovation, the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District is building a stronger, safer South Tillamook County. Every call answered, every skill mastered, and every community member trained represents a step forward in protecting lives and property.

We remain committed to our mission: to protect our community with professionalism, compassion, and readiness.

This month, NRFPD is proud to stand in solidarity with those affected by breast cancer. Throughout October, you may see our firefighters wearing pink shirts, pink ribbon pins, pink-striped bracelets, or carrying pink pens as a visible sign of support. The fire service has a long tradition of honoring causes that impact the lives of our members, families, and communities. Breast cancer awareness reminds us that just like in the fire service, early detection, prevention, and support can make all the difference in saving lives.