On behalf of Westport Fire this information is being shared to the media:
PRESS RELEASE
Contacts:
Greg Brody, Fire Chief
Date: April 12, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Division Chief David Russell Coombs – Active Duty Death
Westport, Oregon - Westport Fire and Rescue is mourning the death of our Division Chief,
Dave Coombs who passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Dave was 53.
Having served faithfully in the fire service for more than 30 years, Dave’s passion for the
medical field started in his early high school years. Dave was a member of American Red Cross
Medical Explorers Post in Eugene, Oregon. Through that program he volunteered and provided
advanced first aid at events such as rodeos, walk-a-thons, and the county fair. In his early adult
years he attended Chemeketa Community College where he gained additional knowledge in the
trade. He worked for Mercy Flights in Medford and Buck Ambulance in Portland, as well as
Premier Jets as an international flight paramedic. Dave went on to work for Columbia River Fire
& Rescue and achieved many accomplishments during his nearly 30-year career. While working
Dave attended Eastern Oregon University and received a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science,
which was a very proud accomplishment for him. Dave retired as a Battalion Chief in July of
2021 from Columbia River Fire & Rescue. Upon retiring from Columbia River Fire & Rescue,
he joined Westport Fire & Rescue and has served as a Volunteer Division Chief for the past 3
years.
Dave also spent a significant amount of time in other fulfilling roles as both a licensing officer
and an examiner for the Oregon Health Division testing EMT’s and Paramedics. He spent many
years as a liaison and leading a medical team as a paramedic at multiple local concert events to
assist when there were medical needs. Since 2013 he had also served on an Incident Management
team for the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office that he retired from in early 2024. He also
volunteered his medical skills for various other events around the state of Oregon.
Dave had an extreme passion for travel and spent a lot of his life immersed in the culture of other
countries. Dave’s yard and his garden at home was immaculate, he especially loved growing
fruits, vegetables and pumpkins along with raising chickens. Dave was also a motorcycle
enthusiast and a former member of the International Association of Firefighters Motorcycle
group. Dave was the happiest however, spending time with family and friends.
Dave is survived by his lovely wife, RayAnn Coombs of Warren, Oregon along with many
beloved family members, friends and his fire family.A procession and a public memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024. The
procession of fire department vehicles will take place from Westport Fire and Rescue in
Westport, Oregon to Grace Baptist Church in Warren, Oregon, beginning at 10:45am and
expects to arrive to the church by 12:00pm. The memorial service will begin at 1:00pm at Grace
Baptist Church at 58690 Ross Road, Warren, Oregon 97053.
If you are a uniformed fire service personnel, please utilize staff vehicles as there are parking
limitations at the Grace Baptist Church.
RayAnn wants to send a heartfelt thank you to each person who has reached out to offer their
love and support. Each message shared either directly or through family and friends has been
relayed and they mean the world to the Coombs family.
For individuals who wish to support the family, they are asking that in lieu of flowers, donations
be made to the Boulder Crest Foundation.
Website: https://support.bouldercrest.org/BCFOneTime
For general information, please contact Westport Fire and Rescue by phone at: 503-455-0727 or
send an email to Fire Chief, Greg Brody at: brodyg@westportfireor.com.
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