In November 2008, voters approved the formation of a consolidated Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue District (NBFRD) to serve the residents of Neahkahnie, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler and the former Nehalem Rural Fire District. Included in the ballot measure was a new tax rate to fund the district and allow the hiring of three staff members, replacement of aging fire fighting equipment and construction of two new fire stations.
Perry Sherbaugh, Manzanita’s former Chief of Public Safety, was hired in July 2009 as Fire Chief. The other two positions were filled by Scott Mullen as Division Chief/Training Officer and Jan Fisher as Administrative Assistant. NBFRD offices are temporarily located in the former Manzanita Fire Department building at 165 South 5th St. in Manzanita.
In 2010, the District purchased a multipurpose rescue vehicle to replace an old limited use pickup rescue and in 2011 there are plans to replace two pieces of apparatus, a tender (tanker) and a pumper, with a single combination tender/pumper.
The NBFRD currently houses its equipment in the old stations owned by Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler. These facilities are leased temporarily from the respective cities and each of the cities has indicated they would like to have the properties returned for their own use as soon as possible. Accordingly, the NBFRD Board of Directors and staff moved ahead with their master plan to construct two new fire stations. Property was located and purchased for a main station on Highway 101 at Bayside Gardens road and for a satellite station on Highway 53 near Camp Four road. An architect was hired to design the stations and necessary approvals and variances for construction were obtained. Actual construction work on these facilities is expected to begin in the spring of 2011. General design plans for the new fire stations are available for viewing at the Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler city halls and the Manzanita library.
The NBFRD Board President, John Steele reported that all costs related to financing the new construction will be included in the NBFRDs existing tax rate. Another Neahkahnie resident, Walt Covert, also serves on the NBFRD Board of Directors.
Submitted by John Steele