Billed as a small grant with big impact, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has announced its 2025 wildfire season staffing grant recipients, which included six Lincoln County fire agencies.
The grants are intended to help fire agencies, many of which rely on volunteer crews, to bring on extra firefighters during wildfire season. These seasonal staff boost emergency response for 200 agencies across the state, from wildfire calls to everyday emergencies, according to the fire marshal.
Fire chiefs across the state credit the grants with improving response capabilities and adding extra staff to operate apparatus needed to monitor and fight wildfires. Local fire agencies were eligible to apply for up to $35,000 to increase staffing levels during the fire season, according to the fire marshal. Each summer, this grant adds more than 1,500 firefighters across Oregon. The Oregon Legislature allocated $6 million to the program this year.
Yachats Rural Fire Protection District, Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue, Seal Rock Fire Department and Siletz Valley Fire District each received $35,000 for a fourth year; East Lincoln County Fire & Rescue received $35,000 for the first time; and Depoe Bay Fire District received $26,905 – a carryover from last year with no new money this year.
“The wildfire season staffing grant is one of our most impactful tools to help local fire agencies respond to emergencies faster, protect communities, and support each other through mutual aid,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a news release.
