A federal grant of almost $7 million will allow Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 to hire new emergency medical technicians and firefighters in the coming months.
The fire district announced 16 new job postings for entry level and lateral career firefighter/paramedics or firefighter/EMTs in October, with applications due Jan. 10, 2025. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants. The money is meant “to help (organizations) increase or maintain the number of trained, ‘front line’ firefighters available in their communities,” the grant’s website says.
Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 received the most funding in the state from the grant.
In addition to the new first responders, $6,935,348 will cover staffing an additional fire station in the district. Depending on experience, salaries for firefighters range from about $65,000 to $102,000. New hires have a projected start date of April 21.
Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 is the largest fire department in area, covering Hermiston, Stanfield, Echo and Umatilla in a area of 209 square miles with its ambulance service area expanding to 620 square miles. The district has around 40 full-time certified firefighters and first responders.
