05/07/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 5/7/2026
Contact: Irrigon Rural Fire Protection District,
541-922-3133
The Irrigon Rural Fire Protection District received a grant from the Wildhorse Foundation for the updating of expired wildland fire shelters.
Irrigon, Oregon – Irrigon Rural Fire Protect District, is all hazards fire district responding to wildfires, structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, with this grant we will be able to provide Irrigon firefighters with new updated fire shelters with a $16,239 grant from the Wildhorse Foundation.
This grant will allow IRFPD to replace expired and/or outdated wildland fire shelters that are a safety requirement for fighting natural cover fires. These fire shelters are lightweight, heat-reflective emergency devices carried by firefighters to protect them when escape from a wildfire is impossible. When deployed, they create a small insulated space that reflects radiant heat and helps shield against flames and hot gases, increasing the chances of survival in extreme conditions.
Each year, the Wildhorse Foundation makes grants to eligible nonprofit, government, and Tribal organizations within the homeland area of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people. Also eligible for funding are Tribal government agencies or Native American charitable organizations with their base of operations within Oregon, as well as national or regional Indian organizations.
The Wildhorse Foundation has awarded a total of over $20 million in grant funding since its establishment in 2001. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis with the deadlines being January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. For more information, visit the Foundation’s website at www.thewildhorsefoundation.com.
The Irrigon Rural Fire Protection District is a dedicated emergency services agency based in Irrigon, Oregon, serving our local community and the surrounding areas of Morrow County, Umatilla County, and Gilliam County. Our mission is to protect life, property, and natural resources through rapid emergency response, fire prevention, and community education. We proudly support neighboring communities through mutual aid, providing trained personnel and resources whenever additional assistance is needed.
About the Wildhorse Foundation: The fund reflects the commitment of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to take a proactive, positive role in the well-being of the community. Funds, derived from a percentage of revenues from Wildhorse Resort & Casino, are managed and distributed by a Board of Directors comprised of community leaders and representatives of the CTUIR.
