PRESS RELEASE

September 23, 2025

Hermiston, OR- Umatilla County Fire District #1 (UCFD#1) will improve emergency communication systems through the purchase of advanced radio equipment with a $30,000 grant from the Wildhorse Foundation.

Thanks to the generous funding, UCFD#1 obtained 16 new portable radios with upgraded communication capabilities. The radios will enhance interoperability with mutual aid agencies via the Umatilla Morrow Radio Data District system, ensuring seamless coordination during multi-agency incidents. The upgrade will also allow direct communication with federal land management agencies operating along the Columbia River corridor, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Wildhorse Foundation for this critical investment in public safety,” said Fire Chief Scott Stanton. “This equipment will directly enhance the safety and effectiveness of our first responders and improve coordination with our local, state, and federal partners.”

In addition, the grant will fund a portable repeater radio system, essential for maintaining communication in large commercial structures and challenging terrain where signal strength is often compromised. The repeater will retransmit weak signals at higher frequencies, minimizing communication breakdowns, enhancing firefighter safety, and optimizing overall emergency response effectiveness.

Each year, the Wildhorse Foundation makes grants to eligible nonprofit, government, and Tribal organizations within the homeland area of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people. Also eligible for funding are Tribal government agencies or Native American charitable organizations with their base of operations within Oregon, as well as national or regional Indian organizations. The Wildhorse Foundation has awarded a total of over $19 million in grant funding since its establishment in 2001. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis with the deadlines being January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. For more information, visit the Foundation’s website at www.thewildhorsefoundation.com. 

About the Wildhorse Foundation: The fund reflects the commitment of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to take a proactive, positive role in the well-being of the community. Funds, derived from a percentage of revenues from Wildhorse Resort & Casino, are managed and distributed by a Board of Directors comprised of community leaders and representatives of the CTUIR.

About UCFD#1: UCFD #1 is Eastern Oregon's largest premier fire district providing emergency medical services, fire, rescue, & HazMat response to the citizens of the district and surrounding areas. UCFD#1 responds to over 6,000 incidents annually, providing the highest quality of compassionate and professional services.

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