Four years ago today, several of the area fire districts combined into the East Umatilla Fire and Rescue District. The fire district is preparing to move its main operations into a new fire station in just around a month from now. Rylee Fitzgerald reports.
WESTON, Ore. — The East Umatilla Fire and Rescue District celebrated its fourth birthday July 1, 2024 with a party at its Main Street fire station. In 2020, there was a vote to combine several of the area fire districts, including the Helix Rural Fire Protection District, the Athena Volunteer Fire Department and the East Umatilla County Rural Fire Protection District into one. This is how the East Umatilla Fire and Rescue District came about.
“Combining resources and whatnot does make for more efficient operation,” said Fire Chief Dave Baty. “Reaching out to take care of people, that’s the name of the game. So, whether it's Helix, or Adams, or Athena, or here in Weston, we just make sure that we're available.”
As the weather dries and heats up, it’s also time the fire district prepares for the upcoming fire season, and the Fourth of July celebrations.
“We make sure all our type-six fire engines are running really well, the pumps are running really well. We make sure that our tenders are, the same thing, running well, because we know we're gonna use them,” said Chief Baty. “We try to spread the word that there's fire safety concerns and whatnot and that if people aren't careful, they can do all the things they want to do but just have to be careful.”
Chief Baty explained that this year, there was a longer and cooler start to the summer, but it’s about to get really warm really quick, and that’s how things dry out, creating the perfect fuel for fire.
“We certainly want people to enjoy themselves, but enjoy themselves safely. That’s the main thing, and we know we're gonna get fires, we just know it, but that's kind of part of it. We don't want anybody to hurt, of course,” Chief Baty said.
The East Umatilla Fire and Rescu e District is also about a month away from moving into a new fire station, just up the hill from where they’re currently at on Main St. in Weston. The new location is at the corner of Banister Rd. and W. Mill St. in Weston.
“We are very gracious and thankful that our Representative Bobby Levy and Senator Bill Hansell and Commissioner John Shafer, they directed some funds to us years ago, and we have a new station that's been built,” expressed Chief Baty.
July 2 celebrates National Wildland Firefighter Day, honoring firefighters who protect and respond to emergencies on acres of wild land every year.
Four years ago today, several of the area fire districts combined into the East Umatilla Fire and Rescue District. The fire district is preparing to move its main operations into a new fire station in just around a month from now.
Chief Baty explained the y fight a lot of wildland fires during the dry seasons in northeastern Oregon.
“Right up the hill, that's a big concern of ours. In fact, we have a program going right now, that is mitigating fuels that are up and around homes and other structures along Highway 204,” said Chief Baty. “We've got guys that are just brushing things out and clearing out vegetation.”
When it comes to fighting wildland fires and structure fires, Chief Baty explained that he’d rather fight structure fires.
“You can have changes because of the conditions, and the winds, and the topography, and the fuels and whatnot,” said Chief Baty. “A building that's on fire is just the building that's on fire, and I don't mean to make it sound like it's easier or that it's not loaded with perils, but I mean, you have more options with the building that's on fire versus the forest or the hillside.”
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