HERMISTON, Ore.-Umatilla County Fire District #1 (UCFD#1) welcomed the community back to Station 21 with an open house of the newly renovated facility at 320 S. 1st Street on June 25.
Station 21 is housed in the Public Safety Center, and the renovations increased functionality, and improved safety and operational readiness of the building that was originally constructed in 1971.
During the open house community members had the opportunity to meet UCFD#1 personnel, including Chief Scott Stanton, view emergency apparatus, enjoy kids’ activities, and learn about the services provided by UCFD#1.
“We want our community to see firsthand how Umatilla County Fire District #1 invests in readiness, safety, and the people who answer the call daily,” said Chief Stanton. “Thank you to our community for your continued support.”
An aging building, a growing department
The Public Safety Center, which houses the Hermiston Police Department, in addition to UCFD#1, was originally built in 1971 for around $400,000.
“Eventually you have to upgrade,” said Chief Stanton. “This is a 55-year-old building that sees traffic 24-hours a day.”
In 2023, Hermiston received a $2.5 million grant from the State of Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program to conduct a seismic retrofit that strengthened the structural integrity of Station 21 and ensured UCFD#1 operations could continue in case of an earthquake or other disaster.
The renovation project to upgrade the facility began in December 2024.
The rest of the project was undertaken with grants and bonds, after the Hermiston City Council approved $20 million in full faith and credit bonds for seven projects in February 2024, including $11.5 million for renovations to the Safety Center.
With a full class of firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs set to graduate soon, as well as new positions within the department, the upgrades to Station 21 were necessary for both safety and efficiency.
“We were set up really well for firefighters, but the original building didn’t always allow us to account for other staff positions,” said Stanton.
Renovations and upgrades improve efficiency and safety
The recently completed renovations to Station 21 make it a modern, safe, functional facility with enhanced alerting capabilities, updated living quarters, improved work and supply areas, and improved operations and response capabilities, according to UCFD#1.
“This station has served as the hub for emergency response in our community for more than 50 years, and these updates ensure our paramedics and firefighters have the facilities they need to continue providing exceptional service into the future,” said Stanton.
Station 21 was upgraded from top to bottom and everywhere in between during the renovation project, from an enlarged parking area to improve effectiveness and safety for responding emergency apparatus, to a new roof that was part of the seismic retrofit.
Upgrades included repurposing some offices and adding more dedicated spaces, such as a Media Room/Library for interviews and press conferences and that will provide recruits a quiet place to study.
Station 21 also now has the room and technological capability for firefighters and UCFD#1 staff to attend the district’s virtual daily meeting.
“Virtual technology saves time and travel, and daily briefings ensure all our stations are on the same page,” said Stanton.
A new Emergency Operations Room at Station 21 will serve as a central command post during incidents and will also provide training space for UCFD#1 staff.
The new Charting Room provides paramedics and EMTs with a quiet, dedicated space to finish patient documentation after emergency calls.
Station 21’s kitchen now features a commercial-grade oven and double dishwashers, and the building has now been brought up to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
“We’ve evolved to the best practices and standards while being good stewards of taxpayer money,” said Stanton. “Our stations aren’t cathedrals, but they are functional.”
For Stanton, the updated alerting system that can help prevent sleep deprivation, while also getting firefighters and emergency personnel dispatched quicker when needed, is perhaps the most important update to Station 21.
The standardized, automated dispatch system features lighting, safety features, speakers, and flashing lights to alert firefighters, paramedics and EMTs, and get them dispatched quickly.
“The enhanced alerting system helps us take care of our firefighters and is a lot more efficient at getting us out the door during an emergency,” said Stanton.
According to Stanton, the alerting system technology has been around for decades and is now in four or five UCFD#1 stations but had not been included in Station 21 until the recent upgrades.
UCFD#1 provides emergency medical services, fire prevention, rescue response, and community risk reduction services to 48,000 residents over 620 square miles.
“We have enough room now, and with these upgrades, I believe we’re set up to serve the public for decades into the future,” said Stanton.
