Depoe Bay Fire District

06/04/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 3, 2026
Contact: Depoe Bay Fire District

Rescue and USCG Helicopter Hoist Operation at Devil’s Punchbowl State

DEPOE BAY, Ore. — On June 3, 2026, at approximately 12:25 PM, the Depoe Bay Fire District was dispatched to a reported fall at Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area. A female victim had fallen onto the rocks below, requiring an immediate and coordinated emergency response.

Upon arrival, first-responding units were directed to the victim’s location on the rocks below the park’s iconic collapsed sea cave. Crews quickly assessed the situation to determine the safest and most effective course of action. Recognizing the victim had sustained critical injuries, firefighters rappelled down to her and initiated advanced life support care.

Due to the severity of the victim’s condition and the challenging terrain, the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team and a United States Coast Guard (USCG) air asset were requested to the scene. Following further evaluation, it was determined that a helicopter hoist extraction was the safest and quickest method to evacuate the victim.

The USCG helicopter arrived on scene and, once the victim was stabilized, she was successfully hoisted off the rocks. The helicopter then landed in the parking lot of Devil’s Punchbowl State Park, where two firefighter/paramedics accompanied the victim providing critical care while in flight to a trauma center in the Willamette Valley.

The Depoe Bay Fire District extends its appreciation to all assisting agencies whose swift coordination and professionalism contributed to a successful rescue operation. Despite the incredible effort of all involved, the victim succumbed to her injuries after arriving at the hospital.

Our thoughts are with the victim and her loved ones in this very difficult time.

The Depoe Bay Fire District would like to take this time to remind the public the dangers of navigating our coastal cliffs. When visiting these areas we ask the you use extreme caution avoid being too close to the safety barriers and do not enter areas that are fenced off. This is for your safety and ours.

Assisting Agencies:
North Lincoln Fire & Rescue • Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office • Oregon State Police • Pacific West Ambulance • Oregon State Parks • Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team • United States Coast Guard.

05/16/2026

05/11/2026

Your Depoe Bay Fire District is assisting our ODF partners with this incident with a Type 3 wildland interface engine, 3 firefighters and a chief officer. The incident is known as the Depoe Bay Creek Fire located approximately 2 miles east of the City of Depoe Bay. Forward progress has been stopped and there are no structures threatened. This is a poignant reminder of wildfire risks in our region. Take this time to prepare by creating defensible space around your home and having an evacuation plan.

05/06/2026

🔥 May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Are you ready?

With current conditions across Oregon, experts are predicting a potentially difficult wildfire season.

Lincoln and Benton counties are teaming up this month to help our communities stay safe, prepared and informed.

“Wildfire doesn’t recognize county lines,” said Lincoln County Emergency Manager Samantha Buckley. “Working together allows us to better serve and protect our communities.”

“Preparedness starts before fire season begins,” said Benton County Emergency Manager Bryan Lee. “The steps we take today can help protect lives, homes and our communities.”

This is just the start … we’ll be sharing tips and resources all month long to help you prepare, protect and support your community.

👉 Start here: https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/770/Hazards-Wildfire

🔥 Mayo es el Mes de Crear Conciencia sobre los Incendios Forestales. ¿Está preparado?

Dadas las condiciones actuales en todo Oregón, los expertos pronostican una temporada de incendios forestales potencialmente difícil.

Los condados de Lincoln y Benton se unen este mes para ayudar a nuestras comunidades a mantenerse seguras, preparadas e informadas.

“Los incendios forestales no reconocen las fronteras entre condados», afirmó Samantha Buckley, Gerente de Emergencias del Condado de Lincoln. «Trabajar juntos nos permite servir y proteger mejor a nuestras comunidades”.

“La preparación comienza antes de que inicie la temporada de incendios”, señaló Bryan Lee, Gerente de Emergencias del Condado de Benton. “Las medidas que tomemos hoy pueden ayudar a proteger vidas, hogares y a nuestras comunidades”.

Esto es solo el comienzo... compartiremos consejos y recursos durante todo el mes para ayudarle a prepararse, protegerse y apoyar a su comunidad.

👉 Empiece aquí: https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/770/Hazards-Wildfire



Lincoln County Oregon Public Health Benton County, Oregon Benton County Health Department Lincoln County, Oregon Lincoln County Health & Human Services - Oregon Lincoln County Sheriff's Office - Oregon Oregon Department of Forestry Oregon State Fire Marshal Keep Oregon Green Association Oregon Department of Emergency Management Oregon Health Authority Oregon Department of Transportation

05/05/2026

04/26/2026

This morning at approximately 09:15 AM, the Depoe Bay Fire District was dispatched to Rocky Creek State Park for a reported fall on the rocks. A male in his 20s slipped and fell, sustaining injuries to his lower extremities.

Depoe Bay firefighters arrived, assessed and stabilized the patient, and determined the safest extraction method was a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hoist. The Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team was requested as a backup. When the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, the patient was successfully hoisted into the aircraft, then landed at Rocky Creek State Park to transfer the patient to fire and medical personnel. The patient was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Assisting agencies: Newport Fire Department, Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team, Oregon State Police, ODOT, Oregon State Parks, Pacific West Ambulance, and the United States Coast Guard.

Safety reminder: The rocky coastal terrain can be unforgiving. Visitors should prepare before outings, notify friends or family of plans, and exercise extreme caution. Depoe Bay Fire District has responded to three other falls along the rocky coastline this weekend and urges the public to use care near cliffs and shorelines

04/13/2026

🚒❤️ From our crew to yours — THANK YOU!

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and the Depoe Bay Fire District wants to take a moment to recognize the incredible men and women at the Willamette Valley Communications Center. While our firefighters and first responders are the faces you see on scene, our dispatchers are the vital link that makes every response possible.

Every call, every crisis, every second counts — and the dedicated professionals at WVCC answer with calm, precision, and heart. They connect our community with help when it matters most, and they do it with professionalism and grace under pressure.

We are deeply grateful for your partnership, your expertise, and your unwavering commitment to the safety of our community. You are an essential part of our team, even if you're rarely in the spotlight.

Thank you, WVCC telecommunicators. We see you. We appreciate you. 🙏

03/30/2026

03/30/2026

A big thank you goes out to Discovering Depoe Bay, Oregon for sharing this moment of our firefighters engaging with the community!!! We are very proud of our firefighters and equally proud to show the support of our community. This is what it is all about!!!