In November 2025, both the elected City Council of Bay City and the Board of Tillamook Fire District each voted to unanimously recommend to the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners that the formation of the Tillamook Bay Fire and Rescue Rural Fire Protection District be placed on the May 2026 ballot. If passed, this measure would unify the existing Bay City Fire Department and Tillamook Fire District into one Fire District. 

The combined district would serve approximately 18,385 permanent residents. The new fire district would be overseen by five Board of Directors elected by the voters. The Board of Directors would then be responsible for the selection of a new Fire Chief for the newly formed district.

Currently Bay City Fire Department has two full-time employees. Tillamook Fire District has one full-time employee and several part-time employees. This arrangement is not sustainable for the multitude of calls for service, especially during the tourism season. Both agencies rely heavily on volunteers to respond to emergencies. Both agencies need added full-time staffing to provide training, documentation, emergency response, maintenance issues and administrative support to name a few.

If passed in the May 2026 ballot, a unified tax base of $1.49 per $1000 assessed value would be imposed and generate approximately $2.45 million annually for district operations and eventual replacement or refurbishing of aging fire apparatus.