The Cannon Beach Gazette had an opportunity to talk with Cannon Beach Fire District Chief Marc Reckmann about the significant improvement in response times to emergencies due to increased staffing levels, recent seismic upgrades to the fire station, the COWS warning system and the lifeguard program.
Chief Reckmann said that about 100 people attended the fire district open house in May; providing an opportunity to educate and update residents, some of whom were unaware of the recent changes and improvements.
Reckmann reported that the significant increase in funding resulting from a combination of the prepared food tax and the passage of the November tax levy has been transformative for the fire district, providing a sustainable ten-year financial plan, along with a stable source of revenue for a capital reserve fund for periodic replacement of emergency vehicles and critical life-saving emergency and rescue equipment.
The prepared food tax, approved by a narrow margin of Cannon Beach voters in November 2021, went into effect in July 2022 and provided funding for the fire district to hire three full-time paid firefighters in January 2023 to staff the fire station 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over three revolving shifts. Revenue from the prepared food tax also allowed the fire district to hire a fire marshal, while continuing to fund a captain/inspector and the part-time firefighter program.
The new tax levy, narrowly approved by voters in November 2023, which replaced two expiring levies, provided funding for three additional full-time paid firefighters who were hired in March 2024; while continuing to fund the fire chief position, a deputy chief responsible for training, and an administrative position. The November tax levy also provides revenue for a capital reserve fund, which frees the district from asking voters to approve future bond measures to replace emergency vehicles. Prior to this tax levy, Cannon Beach voters had approved a 10-year bond to replace the ladder truck; with that bond completely paid-off in 2023.
On most days there are four firefighters on duty at the Cannon Beach fire station, resulting in a significant improvement in response times to emergencies. The desired “standard of coverage” is to arrive at the scene of an emergency within seven minutes, which is now being met 100% of the time within the Cannon Beach city limits.
The paid staff are currently assisted by 21 dedicated part-time employees and volunteers, along with several student volunteers. The number of volunteers declined during the Covid pandemic, with many forced to move out of the area after losing their housing due to the rapid increase in home prices and rents; so the recent increase in the number of volunteers is welcome news.
As the total number of emergency responses continues to increase, Reckmann reported a surprising trend showing that the number of emergency calls involving residents has also been increasing, likely due to an aging population. Cannon Beach residents now account for about 40% of all emergency responses, which is a significant increase from less than 30% a few years ago.
The recent seismic renovation of the thirty-year-old fire station is nearly complete. Paid for with a $1.9 million state grant, along with $30,000 from the district’s budget, the extensive renovation began in September 2023. The upgrade included bracing and strapping walls to resist ground movement during a seismic event, new siding, exterior windows and doors, lighting, flooring, an upstairs kitchen, installing heaters and replacing the apparatus bay doors, and replacing a section of the apparatus bay floor that was sinking. A Federal Emergency Management Agency grant paid for a vehicle exhaust system to protect firefighters from the toxic effects of diesel exhaust.
Chief Reckmann said that the Cannon Beach COWS warning system, which consists of eight towers (six in Cannon Beach and two in Arch Cape) is being completely refurbished and rebuilt with new receivers, transmitters and speakers. Completion of the upgrade has taken far longer than anticipated due to delays in obtaining equipment and permits. The City of Cannon Beach assumed responsibility for the COWS warning system through an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) signed with the Fire District in 2022. Upgrades to the warning system started the week of June 3rd, with contractors returning in July to complete the project. The prolonged activation of the siren during the early morning of June 5th was not caused by ongoing work on the warning system but resulted from a failure of a component in the system. Failures such as these are the reason the system is being upgraded.
A new rescue vehicle, ordered in 2020, was placed into service in 2023. This rescue vehicle provides support and equipment for technical rescues; including surf, high-angle/rope, trail and other types of technical rescues. The Fire District was able to save a significant amount of money when purchasing a new fire engine in 2021 by combining their order with other fire departments; with this new fire engine finally placed into service after significant Covid-related delays in delivery.
The fire district began managing the city-run beach lifeguard program utilizing district personnel in the summer of 2023, and assumed full responsibility for the program through an IGA signed with the city in March 2024. The district currently staffs the lifeguard program with a minimum of two lifeguards on the beach every day from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend: with an eventual goal of four lifeguards on duty every day. While one lifeguard remains in the tower in front of Haystack Rock, the other lifeguards roam the beaches in vehicles, educating visitors and looking for potential problems with people recreating near dangerous rip currents, such as the ones located just north of Haystack Rock and at the north end of Chapman Beach.
Chief Reckmann added that there have been lifeguards on the beach at least four days a week (depending on weather) since mid-April, with two surf rescues occurring at Indian Beach in early April. The fire district started the 2024 season with eight lifeguards, and on June 19th will add a lifeguard program manager with extensive experience in Hawaii. The Firefighter’s Association purchased two new jet skis for surf rescues in 2022. The fire district repaired or replaced several lifeguard vehicles, which were transferred from the City of Cannon Beach when the district assumed responsibility for the lifeguard program. Lifeguards and fire district personnel performed multiple surf rescues during the 2023 summer season, with no loss of life while lifeguards were on duty, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Cannon Beach lifeguard program.
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