Our district publishes all public notices in the local paper and here on the site. Other general announcements may be posted on the website and our community bulletin board, as appropriate.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the most recent dispatched Incidents 

June 14, 2025

Wildfire Risk Reduction Work Underway in Byron Creek Area

Tenmile, Ore. — The Tenmile Rural Fire District has begun critical wildfire mitigation work in the Byron Creek area of Douglas County, thanks to funding from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant.

Utilizing its Defensible Space Crew, the fire district is helping property owners create safer spaces around homes and structures by reducing hazardous vegetation, trimming trees, and removing flammable debris. The work focuses on the principles of defensible space—creating a buffer between homes and wildfire-prone landscapes—to better protect both residents and first responders during fire events.

“Our goal is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and increase the chances that homes and communities can survive a fire,” said Captain Cody Shipp of Tenmile Rural Fire District. “Thanks to the support from the Oregon State Fire Marshal, we’ve been able to bring resources and trained personnel directly to rural residents who otherwise might not have access to these services.”

The Byron Creek area was prioritized due to its proximity to forested lands, limited access roads, and a growing concern over increasing wildfire frequency and severity in southern Oregon. Crews have been working in coordination with local landowners, providing assessments and implementing fuel reduction strategies tailored to each property’s unique needs.

The Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant, administered by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, supports local fire agencies across the state in implementing wildfire risk reduction efforts. In Tenmile, the funding has been instrumental in creating jobs, building crew capacity, and delivering direct service to at-risk neighborhoods.

The Tenmile Rural Fire District encourages all residents of Douglas County to learn more about defensible space and take proactive steps in preparing for fire season. Free resources and home assessments are available through the district and partner agencies.

***News Release***

At approximately 0322 the morning of May 10th, 2025. Tenmile Fire was alerted to a possible fire in the area of Iverson park on Coos Bay wagon road.

While en route to investigate, Douglas County Emergency Dispatch received several

More calls of a fire in this area.

Tenmile Fire units arrived to find approximately 1 acre of brush and timber involved with a moderate rate of spread in the immediate vicinity of the Natural Gas transmission site.

Tenmile command upgraded the alarm to include units from Lookingglass Rural Fire District and Camas Valley Rural Fire District. With additional manpower and equipment arriving quickly.

With our first due units and mutual aid partners , we were able to, with the assistance of Douglas Forest Protective Association Resources, establish a quick containment on this fire about 8 AM this morning.

While Contained, you can expect TRFD units to remain on scene throughout the day, conducting Mop-Up and providing water supply to our partners. With the Official size of the fire being mapped by GPS at 1.7 acres.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

We value the working relationships of our partner agencies that responded as well and extend our thanks to Lookingglass Rural Fire District, Camas Valley Rural Fire District, Douglas County Emergency Communications Center, Douglas Forest Protective Association, and Northwest Natural Gas Company.

While not in active fire season, we encourage all residents to conscious of the weather conditions and be mindful when burning or recreating outdoors.

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The Dire Shortage of Volunteer Firefighters in the U.S.

September 2023: Tenmile Fire to hire Fire Captain/Recruitment & Retention Coordinator

https://www.tenmilefire.org/employment 

$2.2 million headed to rural Oregon fire departments for recruitment and retention

When there's a fire, they show up. So, what happens if there aren't enough volunteer firefighters?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tenmile Rural Fire District Responds to brush & grass fire; State Highway 42 & Kingsway Lane

Tenmile, Oregon – July 13 , 2024

On Saturday, July 13, 2024, at approximately 10:26 am Tenmile Rural Fire District was dispatched to reports of a vegetation fire in Camas Valley near Upper Camas road. Updated information placed the fire along Highway 42 near Kingsway Lane. Tenmile brush unit 2080 arrived on scene at 42 & Kingsway Lane to find an approximately 3/4 acre fire moving at a moderate to quick rate of speed through the grass and timber up the hillslide and along the highway. A second alarm response was requested by first arriving Tenmile Fire units.

Tenmile Fire assumed Incident Command of the fire and began developing a plan of attack and incoming resource assignments in addition to fire attack.  LEVEL 3 - GO! Evacuations were issued for all residences on Kingsway Lane in coordination with  Douglas County Sheriff's Office. SAR was placed on standby and ODOT was requested for traffic control.  As more units from Tenmile, Camas Valley, and Lookinglass Fire Districts arrived,  an aggressive offensive attack was initiated with control lines and fire suppression. A unified Command was established with Douglas Forest Protective Association as thier units began to arrive.  The forward spread of the fire was stopped at 11:16am. The evacuation orders were eventually dropped to level 2 and once the fire was deemed under control the orders were cancelled.  Structural fire departments were on the scene assisting with fire extniguishment and establishing control lines until 1:30PM. The scene was fully turned over to DFPA for mop-up and monitoring of the fire at that time as structural resources went available and returned to their districts. Tenmile Fire kept a water tender on scene to assist DFPA with water supply into the late afternoon. Oregon State Police and Coos Forest Protective Association also assisted with this Incident breifly. 

• Location: Highway 42 and Kingsway lane near MP 59, Camas Valley, Oregon.
• Time of Dispatch: 1028 hours.
• Response Time: Tenmile Fire arrived on the scene  in approx 7 minutes from dispatch.
• Fire Suppression: Initial supression efforts made by Tenmile and Camas Valley brush engines. Collaberative fire control efforts took place between multiple agencies listed above.
• Minimal Wildland Spread: Thanks to their rapid intervention, the fire was controlled and contained to just under 1.5 acres with no damage to structures and no injuries.
• Investigation: Authorities have classified the fire as human caused, exact cause under investigation by DFPA.
• Management Team:
  • Incident Command-Captain Shipp, Tenmile Fire &  Assistant Forester McNeil, DFPA;
  • Operations- Asst Chief Fox, Lookingglass Fire;
  • Fire Advisor-Chief Henderson, Tenmile Fire

The Tenmile Rural Fire District remains committed to protecting lives, property, and the environment. 

If you have any information related to this incident, please contact the Tenmile Rural Fire District at (541) 679 1882. For emergencies, always dial 911.

Overhead of fire from helo

Command vehicle near fire

Tender