City of North Bend release - The City of North Bend recently recognized Fire Chief Jim Brown for 35 years of dedicated service to the fire service and the community, marking a career defined by leadership, commitment and a deep connection to the place he calls home.  Mayor Jessica Engelke and the North Bend City Council honored Brown during a recent council meeting, celebrating a career that began more than four decades ago and has spanned nearly every level of the department.  Brown first joined the North Bend Fire & Rescue Department in 1983 as a volunteer firefighter. After attending school in the Salem area and gaining experience in the Woodburn Fire District, he returned to his hometown in 1990 as a full-time firefighter. Over the years, he steadily rose through the ranks, serving more than two decades as assistant chief before being promoted to fire chief in 2019.  Today, Brown leads a department responsible for providing comprehensive emergency services to the North Bend community, including fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, technical rescue and fire prevention. The North Bend Fire Department is a combination agency staffed by career personnel and volunteers and maintains an ISO Class 3 rating while also providing mutual aid support to neighboring jurisdictions.  “Chief Brown’s career represents the very best of public service,” said North Bend City Administrator David Milliron. “For 35 years, he has answered the call—often in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances—to protect the lives and property of North Bend residents. His leadership, professionalism and commitment to this community have shaped the department into the respected and highly capable organization it is today.”  Under Brown’s leadership, the department continues to operate an all-hazards response model that includes fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, fire investigation, domestic preparedness planning and public education. Firefighters also conduct regular inspections of commercial buildings, respond to medical emergencies and participate in a wide range of community outreach efforts.  The department operates two fire stations and maintains a fleet that includes multiple engines, an aerial ladder truck and specialized equipment such as a rescue boat, drone response team, and technical rescue trailer.  Milliron said Brown’s leadership has helped maintain a strong culture within the department while preparing it for the future.  “Chief Brown has always emphasized teamwork, professionalism and service to the community,” Milliron said. “He has worked tirelessly to ensure our firefighters have the training, equipment and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. North Bend is fortunate to have someone with his experience and dedication leading our fire and rescue operations.”  Beyond emergency response, Brown and his team are also active in community programs, including public education efforts, fire prevention initiatives and community events hosted in partnership with the department’s volunteer association.  Milliron noted that Brown’s long tenure reflects a deep commitment not only to the profession but also to the community itself.  “Chief Brown has spent his career protecting the town where he chose to raise his family,” Milliron said. “That kind of commitment says everything about who he is and the values he brings to the job every day. On behalf of the City of North Bend, we congratulate him on 35 years of exceptional service and thank him for everything he has done—and continues to do—for this community.”