Protecting people. Containing risk. Working together.

Hazardous materials emergencies require a disciplined response, specialized knowledge, and close coordination. Umatilla Fire provides the initial response to reported hazardous materials incidents within our district, taking immediate steps to protect the public, establish incident command, and prevent additional exposure.

Our personnel are trained at the Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations level, with training in decontamination. Crews assess conditions from a safe location, identify potential hazards, establish protective zones, isolate the area, and deny entry. Based on incident conditions, firefighters may also support evacuation or shelter-in-place measures and perform defensive actions within their training, equipment, and capabilities.

Specialized Regional Support

For incidents requiring advanced assessment or technical intervention, Umatilla Fire requests support from HazMat 10, the Oregon State Fire Marshal regional hazardous materials response team hosted by Umatilla County Fire District 1. This regional partnership brings specialized personnel, monitoring instruments, protective equipment, and technical expertise to complex hazardous materials emergencies.

Battalion Chief Ray Harris serves on HazMat 10 as a hazardous materials technician, strengthening the connection between our district’s initial response and the regional team’s specialized capabilities.

A Coordinated Response from Start to Finish

Umatilla Fire remains on scene alongside the regional team, coordinating incident command, maintaining protective boundaries, and supporting decontamination operations. Our crews work closely with hazardous materials technicians, law enforcement, emergency medical providers, facility representatives, and other responding agencies to protect responders and the community.

Our priority is clear: limit exposure, prevent the incident from escalating, and bring the right resources together to resolve the emergency safely.