Jeff McBrayer of Netarts will lead the Netarts-Oceanside Fire Department (NOFD) after current Chief Tim Carpenter retires in June. McBrayer will be only the second Chief since the Netarts and Oceansider Fire Districts merged a quarter-century ago. In an interview with The Oceansider, Chief Carpenter indicated that McBrayer was ranked highest among the contenders in all subject areas during the panel interviews conducted in early March. He added that McBrayer and he have the "same outlook on a lot of issues" which will "ease the transition for the community, Department volunteers and our staff." McBrayer will leave his current position as Chief of the City of Tillamook Fire Department, where he worked for several years as both a volunteer and on staff.  

PHOTOS: The SW Polk Fire District battled a barn fire on Wednesday morning in the 10700 block of Briedwell Road. Firefighters say that the barn was fully involved when they arrived at the scene. Crews were able to get quick control of the fire, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. SW Polk Fire District thanks Dallas Fire and Polk County Fire District #1 for their assistance.  

In the largest exercise of its kind ever on the Oregon coast, Lincoln County Emergency Management, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Services' Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM), City of Newport, Scappoose Fire District, Life Flight, Team Rubicon, and the United States Coast Guard, will host a two-day exercise to introduce and train first responders and volunteers in the deployment of the newest Evacuation Assembly Point (EAP), housed at the Newport Municipal Airport. On May 14 and 15, emergency management personnel from around the state will exercise response to a simulated emergency, such as a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and ensuing tsunami. First responders will have an opportunity to set up, test, and demobilize tents and other EAP equipment.  

PHOTOS: Twelve condominium units in Brookfield were completely destroyed by an overnight fire, the town's fire chief confirmed to Channel 3. According to Brookfield's Volunteer Fire Company, crews from numerous communities responded to help battle the fire at the Ledgewood Complex on Boxwood Drive. The call came in around 1:20 a.m. on Thursday. Two injuries were reported. The people suffered smoke inhalation, but were not seriously hurt, according to Brookfield Fire Chief Andrew Ellis. The fire reached a third alarm before crews were able to extinguish it. There's no word on a cause.  

The newest generation of firefighters in central Pennsylvania will be partaking in serious training earlier than ever after 21 fire companies in the area banded together to launch an initiative that will train and develop firefighters with live-burn training starting at 17. The coalition of fire companies, named the Capital Region Council of Governments (CapCOG), held a press conference on Wednesday at HACC announcing the "100-Teens-to-Lifesavers Challenge," which will allow local fire departments to prepare 17-year-olds with previously restricted live-burn training. Live-burn and interior firefighting training for volunteer firefighters under 18 was prohibited until Act 155 was signed into law in January 2023. Now, 17-year-old junior firefighters will need the permission of their parents and fire chief before participating in any live-burn training.  

PHOTOS: Dale Bash couldn't believe what he was seeing. Bash, chairman of the Antique Toy & Fire Museum, a volunteer non-profit organization with a keen eye for history and education, was at the museum's new facility on Sunday, April 21 in downtown Bay City to open its doors for its first exhibit: a 1918 Republic Fire Truck. Joined by fellow museum volunteers Mike, Nick and Justin Ruegsegger, Bash was struck by how many people stopped to take pictures of the fire truck as they backed it into the newly restored Victorian fire station. "It was amazing," Bash said. "There were even people that came out of the Washington Street Pub to take pictures. It was really a heartwarming sight."  

PHOTOS: A pair of osprey have returned to nest atop the Rehoboth Beach Fire Company siren. Osprey have been nesting atop the siren for the past several years. Osprey are migratory raptors that go south during the winter and live along our coast during the warmer months. Osprey also are known to mate for life, so it is likely the current pair is the same pair that have nested on the siren in previous years. Recently, deterrents had been placed atop the siren and a nearby tower to keep the osprey away. A traffic cone had been placed atop the siren while fake owls had been placed in several spots on the nearby tower. Looking beneath the nest, large piles of debris can be seen on a patio behind the fire company.