UCFD1 named a new apprentice site
By Terry Murry on Monday, May 13th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 has been named one of three new apprentice sites by the Oregon State Fire Fighter Joint Apprentice Training Committee. The decision comes as a result of House Bill 2294 in the 2023 session of the Oregon Legislature. It provided funds to establish a fire fighter apprentice program to be regulated by the Bureau of Labor & Industry.
Oregon State Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) was a key supporter of the bill, and he’s pleased that a department within his district was one of three to be selected.
“It was pivotal that a site be selected in Eastern Oregon, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that Umatilla Fire District No. 1 has been chosen,” Smith said.
The two other sites are the Corvallis Fire Department and the Coos Bay Fire Department. The establishment of the program is considered to be a pivotal moment in the state’s firefighting landscape, according to a news release, because it will focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) communities, veterans, and women. The applicants for apprenticeship will undergo a rigorous selection process which includes comprehensive background checks and a medical fitness for duty exam.
Those accepted into the two-year program will come away with 4,000 hours of training and experience. The apprentices are compensated for their training in order to eliminate the financial barriers that may deter people from pursuing careers in firefighting.
