14 More Central Oregon Coast Firefighters Head East to Battle Blazes

Published 07/25/26 at 5:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) - Fourteen additional firefighters from the Oregon coast are headed east as wildfire activity intensifies across the state. (Above: Netarts-Oceanside Fire District)

On July 23, the Lincoln County Fire Defense Board mobilized Task Force 32 after receiving a resource request from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. The team is deploying to the Akawa Butte Fire, burning roughly 9 miles west of Crooked River Ranch in Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

Task Force 32 includes crews and apparatus from both Lincoln and Tillamook counties:

North Lincoln Fire — Type 3 engine, 3 firefighters
Newport Fire — Type 3 engine, 3 firefighters
Netarts-Oceanside Fire — Type 3 engine, 3 firefighters
Depoe Bay Fire — Type 6 engine, 2 firefighters
Central Coast Fire — water tender, 2 firefighters
North Lincoln Fire — task force leader, 1 firefighter

The deployment is led by Task Force Leader Cody Heidt of North Lincoln Fire Rescue.

Crews departed Lincoln County at 6 a.m. Thursday and traveled to the staging area in Prineville. They were assigned operational duties immediately.

North Lincoln Fire District

The Akawa Butte Fire, which began July 16, has grown to more than 26,000 acres and continues to threaten structures. Firefighters are facing difficult conditions as temperatures rise and thunderstorms enter the forecast. The assignment may last up to two weeks depending on fire behavior and statewide resource needs.

This marks the fourth time Lincoln County agencies have been activated by the Oregon State Fire Marshal during this wildfire season. As Task Force 7 and Strike Team 7 return from the East Evans Creek Road Fire in Jackson County, Task Force 32 is stepping in to support ongoing operations. Upon arrival, the team will join Task Force 22, reassigned from the Brewer Fire to Akawa Butte.

Newport Fire Department

The Fire Defense Board (FDB) thanked local firefighters and partner agencies for their continued willingness to leave home to assist communities across Oregon, calling it a reflection of the strong mutual-aid system that underpins the state’s fire service.

“As wildfire activity continues across Oregon, the Lincoln County Fire Defense Board recognizes and thanks the firefighters and partner agencies who have answered the call to assist with these ongoing incidents,” the FDB said. “Their willingness to leave their own communities to protect others is a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and strong mutual aid partnerships that define Oregon's fire service.”

Depoe Bay Fire

Fire officials also urged central Oregon coast residents to help reduce the strain on firefighting resources. Outdoor debris burning remains prohibited, and residents are asked to avoid any activity that could spark a fire during this period of extreme danger.

Preventing even one wildfire, they said, protects lives, property, and the responders working long hours on the front lines.

The board also encouraged the community to keep evacuees, displaced families, and emergency personnel in mind as crews continue to confront challenging conditions statewide.

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