Where two rivers meet

Long before Umatilla became a city, the meeting of the Columbia and Umatilla rivers was part of the homeland of Indigenous river peoples. The Umatilla people lived along these waters, where fishing, trade, and family connections shaped community life. The Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla peoples have lived in the Columbia River region for more than 10,000 years. Their heritage is not confined to the past: the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation continue to sustain their cultures and ties to the region today.

A river landing becomes a city

In the 1860s, Umatilla grew into an important river landing and supply center for the goldfields of eastern Oregon and Idaho. Steamboats brought goods and travelers to a busy waterfront of stores, hotels, and businesses. First incorporated as Umatilla City on October 24, 1864, the community later adapted to changing trade routes and the arrival of the railroad. Its location at the rivers’ meeting point continued to shape its identity.

McNary and the dam building era

The mid-twentieth century brought another transformation. Work on McNary Lock and Dam began in the late 1940s, drawing workers and families to the area. In 1948, the McNary townsite was built east of Umatilla to support the Army Corps of Engineers during construction. What began as a project community became a lasting part of the local landscape; McNary was annexed into Umatilla in 1973.

Named for Oregon Senator Charles L. McNary, the dam was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 23, 1954. All 14 generating units were operating by 1957. Hydropower and navigation helped reshape the region’s economy, while Columbia River dam development also brought profound changes to Tribal fisheries and traditional river life.

Old Town and a new chapter

Another major change followed in the 1960s. Anticipated flooding associated with the John Day Dam project prompted Umatilla’s relocation to higher ground in 1968. The original townsite, now known as Old Town, did not flood as expected. Today, that protected historic and archaeological landscape preserves evidence of both Indigenous communities and the river town that developed above it.

Fire District History and Formation Records

ARITCLE OF ORIGINATION.pdf

 

Built by volunteers

Umatilla Fire’s history is part of this larger story of a community growing and adapting beside the rivers. The department began as an all-volunteer organization, sustained by local people willing to step forward when their neighbors needed help. Those volunteers established a tradition of service that remains part of the district’s identity.

Growing into today’s fire district

As emergency needs and community demands changed, the district’s staffing model evolved. Around 2021, Umatilla Fire transitioned to predominantly career staffing while retaining volunteers as an important part of the organization. Today, career firefighters, volunteers, and resident interns serve together, connecting dependable daily staffing with community involvement and the development of future firefighters.

The district operates from two fire stations: Station 11 in McNary and Station 12 in downtown Umatilla. Station 11 supports daily career operations and resident intern station life. Station 12 houses apparatus and supports district operations without routine overnight staffing. Together, the stations serve a community whose needs extend from homes and highways to industry and river rescue.

Carrying the tradition forward

The equipment, staffing, and emergencies have changed, but the purpose remains familiar: people preparing to help their neighbors. Umatilla Fire carries that responsibility forward through training, regional cooperation, and service to a community with deep roots and a changing future.