At Umatilla County Fire District #1, our most valuable asset is our personnel and the professional skills they bring to the District. Our paramedics and firefighting personnel undergo rigorous and continuous training to become the highly-skilled first responders they are and deliver the high caliber of emergency care the District provides to the community. 

As such, the safety of our personnel is paramount in every decision we make and the key deciding factor in what we do and how we do it. Safety dictates the decisions we make on the scene of an emergency, it provides the foundation for each one of our training programs, and it's embedded in the way we watch out for one another every minute of every day of the year.

Providing emergency services is a dangerous profession, and the District recognizes the toll the work can take on personnel. An Internal Safety Committee meets monthly to ensure safety procedures are followed and facilities and equipment are safe for use. 

One of the greatest hazards for first responders is the risk of being struck by vehicles while responding to or working at an emergency scene. Officers are trained in Traffic Incident Management to reduce the duration and impact of traffic accidents, improving the safety of first responders, crash victims, and passing motorists. This is critical for the safety of the men and women at the District, who responded to 238 motor vehicle incidents in 2024, including those that occurred on two of the busiest highways in Eastern Oregon.

The District's Cancer Prevention Program offers classes and resources to prevent illness and decrease the likelihood of developing cancer. The program enforces proper personal protective equipment when responding to scenes, including turnout gear, helmets, temperature-resistant gloves and boots, and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).