It’s time for the twenty-fifth edition of the UCFD #1 Hot Seat. The Hot Seat provides a brief snapshot, sharing the story of a highly committed and dedicated staff member. It is with great pleasure that UCFD #1 introduces you to Karina Olvera. 

Some choose the emergency service profession. For others, emergency services chose them. This was the case for Karina, a resident intern and EMT who joined the District in July 2023. Karina was born and raised in Umatilla, graduating from Hermiston High School.

It was her junior year of high school, with the help of one special teacher, that led Karina down the path of emergency services. “ I did a project for that class where I had to interview a person from a certain job and I thought being an EMT or a paramedic would be cool.” Karina’s teacher, who she says “had a lot of hope” for her, introduced her to UCFD#1 Community Paramedic Jessica Marcum to discuss her career in emergency services. 

After learning more about UCFD#1 and the role of a Paramedic, Karina submitted her application for the Resident Intern Program and joined the District. 

“When I was like six or seven, I wanted to be a doctor, so I knew I wanted to be in the medical field. I wasn’t the best student, but for some reason, I chose a healthcare pathway, and in those classes, I always got As. It made more sense to me and caught my attention more than anything else,” Karina shared. 

In her spare time, Karina loves walking her corgi and peaches, staying active in the gym, and traveling. One of her favorite places to travel is the Corgi Fest in Seaside, where Karina and her family bring Peaches every summer. “They do costume contests for all the dogs, and it’s just a lot of fun.”

As a Resident Intern, Karina’s job is to assist the Paramedics & EMTS on incidents, combining the skills learned in EMT school with practical experience, shadowing experienced paramedics. Graduating from Blue Mountain Community College’s EMT school last spring, Karina can now assess patients, check vital signs, and perform basic life-saving care at the direction of the paramedic. “It's a good way to get started into going into paramedicine or any other healthcare job because you see a lot and then you get comfortable. The job just keeps you on your toes.”

One of Karina’s favorite parts of the job is connecting with the community. As a native Spanish speaker, she enjoys bringing a sense of relief to Spanish-speaking patients in emergency scenarios. Karina’s very first call involved a motor vehicle incident with a Spanish-speaking patient. As a new intern, Karina came to the call unsure of what to expect. Communicating with someone in need, who she could speak to in their native language, gave Karina the confidence to continue in the field. 

“I guess you could say it because I'm able to use something that I grew up speaking and in a way, I’m able to bring something from home to work.” 

It is our goal to bring the community closer to our District by telling the stories of the men and women who represent Umatilla County Fire District #1. It’s better to meet them before you need them.