Oregon Dept. of Forestry

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News Release

Newest RFPA Trained, Responding To Fires (Photo) - 07/29/26

Pendleton, Ore. – Oregon’s newest Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA), the North Pendleton RFPA, is fully trained and responding to new fire starts in their area.

 

Upon request of landowners in northern Umatilla County, the formation of the North Pendleton RFPA was approved by the Oregon Board of Forestry on March 4, 2026.  This was the first new RFPA to form since the Grizzly RFPA in March 2023. 

 

“There has been a desire to have some sort of fire protection North of Pendleton for at least my lifetime,” said Randy Bracher from the North Pendleton RFPA. “I’m blown away by the level of support our community, local fire protection districts and community leaders have for this RFPA.”

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) alongside the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, the U.S. Forest Service and local fire district personnel instructed two basic fire training classes that were attended by 62 of the new association members.

 

ODF also assisted in providing 20 portable radios, 70 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and six pieces of Federal Excess Firefighting Equipment. This level of assistance was made possible through HB 3349, which established the Rangeland Protection Association Fund and authorized ODF to transfer used vehicles and other firefighting equipment to RFPAs through sale or donation.

 

“We officially began on March 4 of this year and have been on our heels to get trained up and the resources we need,” Bracher said. “Our optimum goal in creating the RFPA was safety and communication.”

 

On June 14, the association responded to their first large fire, the Twin Sisters Fire. So far this summer, the association has responded to eight fires.

 

“It’s been an incredible experience to work with these landowners through the RFPA formation process,” said Allison Rayburn, ODF’s Rangeland Coordinator. “And it was amazing to hear them say after their first large fire response that the RFPA model was a great success and that communication, safety, and quick action were all key to getting a handle on the fire.”

 

RFPAs support during initial attack and willingness to share their knowledge of the surrounding area make them a vital local resource in wildfire suppression efforts in Oregon.

Attached Media Files: North Pendleton RFPA responding to a fire., North Pendleton RFPA Board of Directors, Federal excess property transferred to NPRFPA with the help of ODF,

Newest RFPA Trained, Responding To Fires (Photo) - 07/29/26

Pendleton, Ore. – Oregon’s newest Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA), the North Pendleton RFPA, is fully trained and responding to new fire starts in their area.

 

Upon request of landowners in northern Umatilla County, the formation of the North Pendleton RFPA was approved by the Oregon Board of Forestry on March 4, 2026.  This was the first new RFPA to form since the Grizzly RFPA in March 2023. 

 

“There has been a desire to have some sort of fire protection North of Pendleton for at least my lifetime,” said Randy Bracher from the North Pendleton RFPA. “I’m blown away by the level of support our community, local fire protection districts and community leaders have for this RFPA.”

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) alongside the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, the U.S. Forest Service and local fire district personnel instructed two basic fire training classes that were attended by 62 of the new association members.

 

ODF also assisted in providing 20 portable radios, 70 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and six pieces of Federal Excess Firefighting Equipment. This level of assistance was made possible through HB 3349, which established the Rangeland Protection Association Fund and authorized ODF to transfer used vehicles and other firefighting equipment to RFPAs through sale or donation.

 

“We officially began on March 4 of this year and have been on our heels to get trained up and the resources we need,” Bracher said. “Our optimum goal in creating the RFPA was safety and communication.”

 

On June 14, the association responded to their first large fire, the Twin Sisters Fire. So far this summer, the association has responded to eight fires.

 

“It’s been an incredible experience to work with these landowners through the RFPA formation process,” said Allison Rayburn, ODF’s Rangeland Coordinator. “And it was amazing to hear them say after their first large fire response that the RFPA model was a great success and that communication, safety, and quick action were all key to getting a handle on the fire.”

 

RFPAs support during initial attack and willingness to share their knowledge of the surrounding area make them a vital local resource in wildfire suppression efforts in Oregon.

Attached Media Files: North Pendleton RFPA responding to a fire., North Pendleton RFPA Board of Directors, Federal excess property transferred to NPRFPA with the help of ODF,