Enjoy Umatilla. Be ready for the conditions.

An afternoon on the river. A backyard barbecue. A community celebration. A winter trip to visit family.

These are the moments that make our community home. At Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District, we want you to enjoy them and return home safely.

Our rivers, open landscapes, and changing seasons bring different hazards throughout the year. Before heading outside, take a moment to check the weather, plan your activity, and prepare for the unexpected.

A little preparation protects a good day.

River Days: Wear Your Life Jacket

Warm sunshine does not mean warm water.

The Columbia and Umatilla Rivers are part of life here. They also deserve respect. Cold water, moving currents, submerged obstacles, and changing conditions can overwhelm even experienced swimmers.

• Wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your activity.
• Buckle and adjust it before getting on the water.
• Check weather and water conditions before launching.
• Avoid boating alone and let someone know your route and expected return.
• Stay within your experience and ability.
• Observe posted restrictions and exclusion areas around dams and other facilities.
• Do not rely on inflatable toys as safety equipment.

A life jacket stored in the boat cannot help you the way one you are wearing can.

Summer Heat: Plan for More Than Sunshine

Slow down before the heat catches up.

Whether you are working in the yard, attending an outdoor event, or spending the day near the river:

• Schedule strenuous activities for cooler parts of the day.
• Bring drinking water and take regular breaks.
• Choose shade or an air-conditioned place to cool down.
• Wear lightweight clothing and use sun protection.
• Check on family members and neighbors who may need assistance.
• Change your plans when conditions become unsafe.

Dizziness, nausea, weakness, and heavy sweating can be warning signs of heat illness. Stop activity and move somewhere cooler. Confusion, collapse, or suspected heat stroke requires an immediate call to 911 and prompt cooling while help is coming.

Finishing the activity is never more important than getting someone out of the heat.

Wind & Dust: Conditions Can Change Quickly

Be willing to change the plan.

Check forecasts before boating, outdoor work, travel, and gatherings. Wind can affect your activity long before a storm arrives.

If blowing dust threatens visibility while driving:

• Avoid entering the dust if possible.
• Find a safe place to pull completely off the traveled roadway.
• Once safely stopped off the roadway, set the parking brake, turn off your lights, and take your foot off the brake so other drivers do not follow your lights.
• Never stop in a travel lane.

If you hear thunder, move into a substantial building or enclosed hard-topped vehicle. A tree, picnic shelter, or tent is not safe lightning shelter.

Wildfire Season: Check Before You Work or Play

Make prevention part of every outing.

Before mowing, using spark-producing equipment, lighting a recreational fire, or planning an outdoor burn, check restrictions for your exact location.

Do not assume that permission in one area applies to another. Conditions and restrictions can change.

For detailed guidance, visit:

Wildland Fire Prevention →
Outdoor Burning & Burn Permits →
Defensible Space & Home Protection →

Wildfire Smoke: Adjust Your Day

Smoke can affect you even when the fire is far away.

Check air-quality reports and public health guidance before outdoor activities.

• Reduce smoke exposure and move activities indoors when needed.
• Keep indoor air cleaner with appropriate filtration.
• Close windows and doors when practical, but do not remain in an overheated home.
• Seek a cooler location with cleaner air if your home cannot provide both.
• Pay particular attention to children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s guidance for existing conditions.

A properly fitted, NIOSH-approved particulate respirator can reduce particle exposure for suitable users. Cloth face coverings and ordinary dust masks do not provide the same protection.

Clean air and safe temperatures both matter.

Grilling & Backyard Gatherings

Keep the food cooking and the fire contained.

• Use fuel-burning grills outdoors, away from siding, railings, eaves, and branches.
• Follow the manufacturer’s placement and operating instructions.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away.
• Remove grease buildup and inspect equipment before use.
• Open the gas grill lid before lighting.
• Remain with the grill while cooking.
• Handle coals and ashes as a continuing fire hazard; dispose of them only when completely cool.

Check current restrictions before using fire pits or other outdoor flames.

Before guests arrive, decide who is responsible for supervising the cooking and extinguishing the fire.

Fireworks: Check Restrictions Before Celebrating

A celebration should not become an emergency.

Choose a public display as an alternative to lighting fireworks at home.

If using consumer fireworks, confirm they are legal and permitted at your location.

• Keep them away from dry vegetation, buildings, people, and pets.
• Have water immediately available.
• Never try to relight a firework that fails to function.
• Soak spent fireworks before proper disposal.
• Follow all local restrictions and land-manager rules.

A legal purchase does not mean use is allowed everywhere—or safe in every condition.

Fall & Winter: Prepare Before the First Cold Night

Bring safety indoors with you.

Before using heating equipment, check its condition and clear the surrounding area.

• Keep combustible materials at least three feet from heaters.
• Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Have chimneys and vents professionally inspected and cleaned annually.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Keep portable generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust directed away from openings.

Never use an oven, outdoor grill, or generator to heat an indoor space.

 

Winter Travel: Give Yourself Options

Carry what you would need if the trip takes longer.

Before traveling, check road conditions and forecasts. Allow extra time and postpone travel when necessary.

Keep a vehicle emergency kit with warm clothing, blankets, water, food, necessary medications, a flashlight, and phone-charging supplies. Carry appropriate traction equipment and know how to use it.

Check TripCheck before you leave, not after you encounter the problem.

Holiday Safety: Protect the Traditions

Keep the memories. Reduce the hazards.

• Water a live holiday tree every day and remove it when dry.
• Keep trees at least three feet from heat sources.
• Keep decorations clear of exits.
• Inspect light strings and follow their ratings and connection limits.
• Choose flameless candles when possible.
• Never use lit candles on a tree.

Give decorations a safety check before they become part of the celebration.

Before You Head Out, Take One Minute

Ask yourself:

What are the conditions?
Check weather, air quality, restrictions, and travel information.

What do we need?
Bring the clothing, water, safety equipment, and supplies appropriate for the outing.

Who knows our plan?
Share your destination and expected return when heading somewhere remote.

How will we get help?
Know your location, access route, and how to describe it to dispatch.

Good Days Are Worth Preparing For

We are proud to serve a community with so much to enjoy outdoors. Help us protect those experiences by making safety part of the plan.

Look after your family. Check on your neighbors. Be willing to turn around, postpone, or head inside when conditions change.

Enjoy the season. Respect the conditions. Get home safely.