Christopher Baker has served as Fire Chief of the Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District since May 2025. A United States Coast Guard veteran, he brings 30 years of combined experience in the fire service, law enforcement, and public safety. Having spent most of his career in California, Chief Baker’s background includes responding to some of the largest wildfires in the state’s history and leading personnel through demanding emergency operations.

His experience spans frontline firefighting, strike team leadership, investigations, and incident management. He currently serves on an Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Team, assisting communities during major wildfires and other emergencies. These assignments continue his commitment to serving beyond district boundaries and working alongside agencies throughout the region.

Chief Baker has also taught at community colleges and fire academies, sharing practical experience with firefighters entering the profession and those preparing for greater responsibility. Developing firefighters and supporting their growth remains an important part of his work, from helping a resident intern build foundational skills to preparing an experienced firefighter for leadership.

As Fire Chief, Baker’s responsibilities extend from emergency operations to the financial and organizational work that keeps a district functioning. His experience includes grant writing, budget development, strategic planning, policy development, and personnel and apparatus management. At Umatilla Fire, he works to balance daily response demands with the staffing, training, equipment, and resources needed to serve a growing community.

For Chief Baker, the responsibility of leading Umatilla Fire is deeply personal. Behind every emergency call is someone’s family, home, or livelihood—and behind every response are firefighters with families counting on them to return home. He cares deeply about both. His commitment is to support the people who serve, help the next generation find their place in the fire service, and honor the trust this community places in its firefighters. He is proud to serve alongside the men and women of Umatilla Fire and to call this community home.