North Pendleton RFPA

Umatilla County
Request: $75,000

We are a new organization formed in March 2026. We are trying to get needed assets for this fire season and serve our community for decades to come.

The North Pendleton RFPA has been discussed for years, yet it took a near fatal accident in 2025 for communities to work together and form the RFPA, which was finalized in March 2026. Last year, an untrained person lacking knowledge or experience fighting fire attempted to battle a wheat field fire in a disk tractor. He was quickly overtaken by fire, jumped from the tractor and was burned over 40 percent of his body. He thankfully survived, and the RFPA was created. We now have about 60 trained volunteers covering 125,000 acres with clear communication among farmers and ranchers.

So far in 2026, North Pendleton RFPA has responded to one large fire at over 8,000 acres, and two mutual aid requests that were less than 10 acres. No structures were lost thus far. Response vehicles to fires this year have all been farmer or rancher owned vehicles or tractors, which are not equipped for fighting fires.

Current RFPA vehicle inventory is one operational brush truck, one two-wheel drive brush vehicle, and a large 2000 gallon Army tanker truck. The RFPA has received other donated trucks and parts, however none are currently operational due to lacking pumps, hoses, batteries, fittings, tires, or even a whole engine. Some funding could bring one or more of those vehicles online and to active fire duty. With dedicated brush trucks, our response time will be quicker, with the right equipment our volunteers will be better equipped to fight fires that threaten their farms and ranches and able to have more volunteers respond as they will not need to use their personal or farm/ranch vehicles.

We request $75,000 to finance a new-to-us Brush truck purchase and associated pumps, hoses and fittings.