Wildhorse Foundation grant boosts Union Rural Fire Protection District wildfire gear

A $20,000 Wildhorse Foundation grant will help the Union Rural Fire Protection District upgrade the wildland firefighting equipment its volunteer crews rely on when conditions turn hot and dry across Union County. The district said the money will go toward updating equipment on its wildland engines, improving operational efficiency and better protecting residents and natural resources.

For a volunteer-based department that responds across a large rural county, those upgrades matter in immediate terms. Union Rural Fire Protection District is listed at 570 E. Beakman St. in Union and is described in local directory listings as a combination fire department that handles fire suppression, education and inspections. One listing says the district operates two stations, a reminder that coverage in Union County depends on getting the right equipment and the right people to the scene quickly.

Casey George, identified by the City of Union as the district chief, said the grant was a vital investment in the department’s ability to respond to wildland fires in the region. The practical value is simple: better-equipped engines can get to work sooner, support firefighters more effectively and help reduce the risk to homes, land and crews when fire weather intensifies.

The grant also comes as the district is recruiting new volunteers. No prior experience is required, only a willingness to learn, a strong work ethic and a desire to help protect neighbors. City of Union emergency-services information says volunteers can receive hands-on training for firefighter 1 and/or medical responder work, underscoring how rural departments often build capacity by training local residents to fill essential roles.

Wildhorse Foundation said it awards grants quarterly to eligible nonprofit, government and Tribal organizations in its homeland area and has awarded more than $20 million since 2001. The foundation is managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in partnership with Wildhorse Resort & Casino, and it receives a portion of net gaming revenues to fund the program. It also says annual giving exceeds $1 million to eligible organizations in the homeland area of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people.

The grant fits into a wider Oregon wildfire response picture. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire season staffing grant program, established in 2022, offers up to $35,000 per agency to help local fire departments add firefighters during fire season and keep fires small and away from communities. In Union County, a $20,000 equipment boost can help the district do exactly that, strengthening the volunteer system before the season gets worse.