Fire Department

Fire Chief’s Message

On behalf of the men and women of Coos Bay Fire & Rescue, welcome to our department.

As the Fire Chief for the City of Coos Bay, it is my responsibility to ensure that our members carry out the mission of the Coos Bay Fire Department which is to actively promote, deliver, and preserve a feeling of security, safety and a quality level of service to the citizens of our community. We have a great staff and through teamwork and determination we will succeed in doing this.

Again, welcome to our web-page. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at 541-269-1191.

Mark Anderson, Fire Chief

Administration

Mark Anderson,  Fire Chief

Fire Chief Mark Anderson has been an employee with the City of Coos Bay since January 1989. He began as a Firefighter/Engineer and was promoted to the rank of Captain in December of 1991. In 1994 Mark accepted the position of Deputy Chief of Operations and Training. The fire department restructured the organization in 2002, and Chief Anderson’s title was changed to Battalion Chief.  Chief Anderson assumed the role of Acting Fire Chief in June 2013 and maintained that position until he was officially appointed as the Fire Chief of Coos Bay Fire & Rescue on February 18, 2014.

Prior to joining the Coos Bay Fire Department, Mark was a volunteer firefighter with the Marion County Fire District #1 in Salem, Oregon. He graduated with an Associate of Science degree from Chemeketa Community College’s Fire Science program in 1986. In 2002, Mark completed the Executive Fire Officer program through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He is a Emergency Medical Technician, NFPA Fire Officer IV, and Instructor.

Mark has been married to his wife Angie since July of 1987. Together they have seven children. They are very active in their church and community.

JASON GUENTHER, A-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF

Battalion Chief Jason Guenther began his firefighting career in 2005 as a volunteer with the Gold Beach Fire Department. Two years later, he was hired on as Firefighter/Engineer with the City of North Bend, where he worked for six years before joining the Coos Bay Fire Department in 2014. In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, where he served at Fire Station 2 in the Empire district and was in charge of coordinating the Student Intern Firefighter Program and the department communication equipment.

Jason obtained his bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in 2005. He returned to Southwestern Oregon Community College for his Associate’s in Paramedicine in 2012. In addition to working as a paramedic with Bay Cities Ambulance, he has attended multiple trainings, is certitied as a Fire Officer 2, and is a certified technician on the state HazMat team.

In his role as Battalion Chief, Chief Guenther oversees A-shift and supervises projects including maintenance of the downtown Station 1, small equipment, fire hose, ladders, and oversees business inspections and equipment inventory.

Beyond his day-to-day firefighting duties, Chief Guenther is active with his family and chasing around his two sons. He also served as President of the career firefighters union, Local 2935, for two and a half years before being promoted to Battalion Chief.

Jeff Adkins, B-Shift Battalion Chief

Battalion Chief Jeff Adkins started his career with the Coos Bay Fire Department in December of 2006 as an Engineer and was  promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2015. Chief Adkins was the coordinator for the Oregon Regional Hazardous Materials team then transferred to B-shift to learn the training program for the fire department before being promoted to Battalion Chief in November 2016.

Jeff attended Southwestern Oregon Community College and Waldorf College where he earned an Associate’s degree in Fire Science, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration respectively, and is now working towards his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University.

Since his promotion to Battalion Chief, Adkins serves as the department’s training officer and is or has been the administrator of numerous fire department programs including: the maintenance of Fire Station 2 in the Empire District, respiratory protection program, personal protective equipment, the emergency medical services program, the student firefighter program, and fire department communications, and serves as the department’s Health and Safety Officer.

In addition to his fire department responsibilities, Adkins has been very active within the Coos Bay Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, serving on the E-Board as treasurer since 2009. Adkins was also highly active in the career firefighters union, Local 2935; serving on the E-board.

Steve Takis, C-Shift Battalion Chief

Battalion Chief Steve Takis started his career with the Coos Bay Fire Department in January of 2004 as an Engineer, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December of 2016, then was promoted to Battalion Chief in May of 2019 and assigned to C-shift.

Steve earned an Associate’s degree in Fire Science from Rogue Community College in 2005 and a second Associate’s degree in Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic from Umpqua Community College in 2006. In 2016 he completed a Bachelor’s degree with dual majors in Business Administration and Fire Administration from Waldorf College.

With his promotion to Battalion Chief in 2019 Chief Takis became the administrator of several fire department program areas. These programs include the Regional Hazardous Materials Team, Emergency Medical Equipment and Training, Public Education and Prevention, Vehicle Maintenance, Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention, and several more.

Steve served in different roles during his 15 years as a member of Coos Bay Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2935 and was most recently the Vice President for 3 years. Steve has also been very active with the Coos Bay Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, serving as the Social Chair since 2015.

Fire Organization

In addition to responding to approximately 3,700 emergency requests for assistance annually, the department provides a number of proactive services including fire and safety inspections, emergency planning (disaster), consultative services and educational programs for the general public and business community. The department provides services to the City of Coos Bay as well as contracted fire and medical service to Timber Park, Libby and Bunker Hill Fire Protection Districts, encompassing an area of 17 square miles and a population of approximately 23,000.

RATING

Coos Bay has been re-classified as a Class 3 Fire Department. The most recent number released by ISO show that out of the over 47,000 fire departments rated by ISO only 5.6% are rated a 3 or better. In the state of Oregon we join only 58 other departments with a rating of 3 or 2, there are no 1’s in the state. The audit rated the following, Receiving and Handling Alarms, Fire Department Operations, Equipment, Training and Water Supply. The reviews are scheduled for every ten (10) years. The last rating was conducted in 2002, at that time Coos Bay was rated at a 4. This change will result in a savings in insurance costs to property owners in the City, Libby and  Bunker Hill Fire Districts. Each insurance company evaluates the properties they insure in the area and apply the rating to that property. Upon renewal of your insurance policy you should ask your agent to be sure you are getting the new rating credit. This new rating is because of the hard work that everyone at the Fire Department does. Our dispatch center also assisted in getting the lower rating as well as the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board. Congratulations to everyone on a job well done!

Personnel

The Coos Bay Fire Department is staffed by a Fire Chief, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 3 Lieutenants, 9 career Firefighter/Engineers, 12 Volunteer Firefighters, and up to 9 Student Firefighters who work directly with full time staff. Off-duty career and volunteer staff report to Station 1 at 450 Elrod Ave. when called out for general alarms. A "General Alarm" is used when additional staffing is needed, due to structure fires, mutual aid, or specialized rescue efforts. Personnel are alerted by the North Coos 911 dispatch center through a paging system.

In addition to the resources identified above the department participates in a countywide mutual aid system, which increases the total amount of resources immediately available.

Become a Volunteer

To become a Coos Bay Fire & Rescue Volunteer Firefighter please fill out a Volunteer Application and include a copy of your valid drivers license, and turn it into Coos Bay Fire Station 1 located at 450 Elrod Ave., in Coos Bay.  Applications can be picked up at Station 1 or can be found under the section "Volunteer/Student Firefighters".

Stations and Resources

Service to the community is provided from 3 strategically located fire stations. The locations and resources at these stations are as follows:

CONTRACTING SERVICES

The City of Coos Bay Fire Department has for a number of years contracted a portion or all of its services to 3 rural fire protection districts these are Timber Park, Libby and Bunker Hill. These districts incorporate businesses and a combined population of approximately 5,500 people within their boundaries.

Coos Bay Fire Department Community Room

Community room rules

The Coos Bay Fire Department Community Room is available without charge for use by local not-for-profit groups engaged in educational, cultural, intellectual or charitable activities of interest and/or benefit to the community.

Permission to use the community room does not constitute an endorsement by the City of Coos Bay or the Coos Bay Fire Department of a program or point of view expressed. Community room use shall not be publicized in such a way as to imply City of Coos Bay or the Coos Bay Fire Department sponsorship. All publicity is the responsibility of the group, and must clearly identify the sponsoring organization.

City of Coos Bay and the Coos Bay Fire Department usage will take priority, but outside groups may schedule on a first come-first served basis. Each group will be expected to abide by the policy and rules of use as established by the Fire Department. The Fire Department reserves the right to withdraw approval for any group misusing the room or for failure to abide by the policy and rules.

For a full copy of the rules and regulation please click the link below for a PDF copy.

General Information

The Coos Bay Fire Department Community Room will hold a maximum of 49 people with chairs only and roughly 25-35 with chairs and tables depending on set up. The community room has a projector, computer, and smart board that may be used by guests. There is also limited ability to connect your own laptop or tablet to the projector. The room has access to restrooms and a small coffee station.

Reserving the Community Room

The Coos Bay Fire Department Community room is available for use from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm on Monday through Friday. To reserve the community room please click the link and you will be asked to create an account if you do not already have one. Community Room Reservations

Related Documents

• Community Room Rules

Fire Programs

FIRE SUPPRESSION

The Coos Bay Fire Department provides a quality level of service in a number of fire suppression disciplines including ship board, bulk fuel, rail, urban, and wildland/urban interface type fires. Career personnel receive in-depth training on a daily basis and volunteers must meet minimum hourly training requirements on a weekly basis. The department also has and maintains state of the art equipment and apparatus to meet the challenges of differing types of fires.

When a fire alarm is received the department will initiate an efficient response with its personnel, at the same time both volunteer and off-duty career personnel can be recalled by way of a "General Alarm" to provide an effective supplemental force for any operation.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL

The Coos Bay Fire Department participates in cooperation with Bay Cities Ambulance to provide a tiered emergency medical response. This system assures a very efficient and effective service level to our customers.

Any call for emergency medical assistance is immediately responded to and handled by the departments career staff. The department's career staff currently comprises 6 Paramedics, 8 EMT-Intermediates, and 2 EMT's.  The department's volunteer staff has 0 Paramedic and 2 EMT's and the  student firefighters have 3 EMT's.

The Department uses the 2017/2019 Coos County Protocols for its standing orders for EMS Care.

RESCUE

The Coos Bay Fire Department has the expertise and equipment to handle a number of different type of rescue situations. This includes experience and training in vehicle extrication, structural collapse extrication and rope rescue.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM

The Coos Bay Fire Department is contracted by the State of Oregon to provide 1 of 13 Oregon hazardous material response teams. This team provides emergency hazardous material response for all of the south coast from near Florence to the Oregon/California border.

EMERGENCY SALVAGE

The Coos Bay Fire Department has the equipment and expertise to assist with mitigating emergency salvage issues. This includes water removal, protection of furnishings from damage, protection of certain types of equipment, due to water entering a structure or while overhauling a structure and smoke removal to name but a few. It must be understood these functions are to abate EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION

The Coos Bay Fire Department conducts investigations of all fire incidents it responds to. The purpose of which is to determine the point of origin and cause. A team of department personnel are available at all times for this purpose.

Related Documents

• 2014/2015 EMS Protocols

Fire Prevention and Safety

FIRE AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS

The Coos Bay Fire Department conducts business fire safety inspections to almost every business inside the city limits.  Some businesses have inspections performed every year based on the type of occupancy they are such as schools and large retail businesses.  Other businesses have inspections on a rotating schedule of three years.  To accomplish all of these inspections, the Fire department conducts approximately 350 on-site inspections each year.  The Department also performs approximatley 50 new business inspections each year.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC AND BUSINESSES

The Coos Bay Fire Department provides a number of educational opportunities for both the general public and businesses for which the department provides protection.

For the general public this includes home fire escape plans, home safety inspections, cooking fire safety, family disaster preparedness, juvenile firesetter counseling, smoke detector installation and maintenance, chimney and wood burning fuel device safety and electrical hazards to name but a few. A number of programs provided for the business community include training of employees in the proper use of fire extinguishers, first aid and CPR instruction, hazardous materials awareness (Community Right to Know) training, disaster preparedness for businesses, and company self inspection practices.

Smoke Detector Program 

The Coos Bay Fire Department and the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal offer free smoke alarms to all residents of the City of Coos Bay and the three contract districts in which the Coos Bay Fire Department provides fire protection services. This includes parts of Bunkerhill, Libby, and Timberpark. If the Coos Bay Fire Department responds to your home, you are eligible for free smoke alarms. The Coos Bay Fire Department must install your new smoke alarm and you must sign a liability waiver.

If you need a smoke alarm please click HERE and fill out the form and one of our firefighters will contact you. This program will remain active while smoke alarms supplies last.

The Coos Bay Fire Department would like to remind everyone to make sure that they have at least one working smoke alarm on each floor of their residence and to know and practice how to exit your home in case of an emergency. Also, identify a meeting place so you know that all of your family is safe.

Commercial Lock Box Program

In accordance with the City Municipal Code 15.35.050 (11) and as a means of providing emergency access to structures, the fire department may utilize a Key Box rapid entry system.

A Key Box shall be installed on structures of 4,000 square feet or larger and on structures deemed by the Fire Chief or his designee to pose a difficult entry problem.

Exception: Buildings constructed before 1997 are exempt from this standard, however a Key Box system may be present and retrofitting is recommended.

For commercial properties, the Key Box is to be mounted to the left of the primary entrance to the occupancy, on the addressed side of the building. The Key Box shall be located a minimum of 6 feet and maximum of 8 feet from grade. Exceptions from this standard are to be approved by the Fire Chief and the location is to be noted on the master list.

The Coos Bay Fire Department participates with the Knox box commercial lock box program. For interested parties, please use the below link for more information. The link has order information, prices, and product options. For any questions please contact the Coos Bay Fire Department at 541-269-1191.

www.knoxbox.com/3350

RESIDENTIAL LOCK BOX PROGRAM

The department has authorized the exclusive use of Supra lock boxes for residential applications.

For residential properties, the Key Box is to be mounted to the left of the primary entrance or hung over the top of the primary entrance door.  

For more information about pricing and how to obtain a residential Supra Lock Box please contact the Coos Bay Fire department at 541-269-1191.

CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTIONS AND INSTALATION

The Coos Bay Fire Department has 3 Child Safety Seat Technicians certified through Safe Kids Worldwide. These technicians offer inspections and education for parents and care providers for safe installation and use of Child Safety Seats. Our technicians are part of a county wide coalition of technicians that hold clinics and seat checks are our main fire station. Please watch our social media and other news outlets for information about upcoming clinics. If you have a need before the next scheduled clinic please click on this LINK to submit a request for one of our technicians to contact you. 

Volunteer / Student Firefighters

Volunteer firefighters complete a DPPST Firefighter I Academy and have scheduled drills every Wednesday night starting at 7PM. Coos Bay Fire & Rescue offers programs for firefighters that live and work at one of the staffed fire stations while working towards a two year Fire Science Associates Degree or a three year Paramedic Degree

Volunteer Firefighter Requirements

• 18 years old by date of acceptance.
• No criminal record
• Be in good physical condition.
• Have a valid driver’s license.
• Appearance will meet department standards.

Benefits of being a Volunteer Firefighter with Coos Bay

• A sense of accomplishment while helping your community.
• Working together with other agencies to accomplish common goals.
• Provided needed training for success in firefighting and emergency medical response.
• Being an essential member of our team.
• Opportunity for outside, fire and emergency medical training.
• Family atmosphere.

What are my commitments if I become a Volunteer Firefighter?

• Maintain state-required training hours.
• Attend weekly volunteer trainings, Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm.
• Attend department community functions.
• Respond to general alarms and other calls as needed.
• Be responsible for the safe keeping of all assigned department property.
• Be respectful at all times, as you are a representative of the fire department.
• Obey all lawful orders of department personnel.
• Demonstrate willingness to learn.

Related Documents

• CBFD Volunteer Application - Please print and complete the form and then return to the main Fire Station at 450 Elrod Avenue.

Upcoming Events

Currently there are no community education events scheduled. If you have questions regarding community education opportunities please contact Jason Wilson at jwilson@coosbay.org

Burning Regulations

Residential outdoor burning within the City limits of Coos Bay does not require a permit from the fire department. Burning is allowed during daylight hours only, with a responsible adult equipped with a hose and a shovel or other approved fire extinguishing tool present at all times.

If weather conditions warrant a ban on barrel or open burning, the message will be given out through local television, radio, newspaper and City weekly updates.

For copies of the residential burning regulations, please click on the link below or contact the Fire Department at 541-269-1191.

Printable Residential Burning Regulations

Larger burns --  such as land clearing (vacant lots), commercial burning, or remodeling or demolition of a building -- do require permits from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Apply for a permit at DEQ office at 381 N. 2nd St. in Coos Bay, phone 541-269-1441. Once a DEQ permit is obtained, bring the permit to the Coos Bay Fire Station #1 located at 450 Elrod Avenue for documentation.

BURN BARREL REGULATIONS

Wood, paper, cardboard, and yard trimmings can be burned in a burn barrel. Material must be dry before being burned. Plastics should not be burned.

The burn barrel should be at least 15 feet from structures and clear of grass and brush. It should be covered with a screen covering with holes no larger than 1/4 inch.

OPEN FIRES

Open burning shall not be conducted within 50 feet of any structure or other combustible material. Exception: Not less than 25 feet when the pile size is 3 feet or less in height. Permissible burnables include yard trimmings and scrap wood.

SLASH BURNING

Calculation of fuel tonnage and fuel moisture will be necessary to assess any risk; recording weather conditions, fire protection and trailing plans must be on the site map, and pile location approximates are required.

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