Internship Enhanced Safety, Efficiency at Upper McKrnzie Rural Fire

The Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District (UMRFPD) recently wrapped up a successful summer internship funded by the Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO).

The district received an SDAO Internship Grant, a program designed to help special districts complete targeted projects. With the funding, UMRFPD brought on Taylor Wickizer, a volunteer with the department, to serve as a Safety and Compliance Intern.

Over a four-month period, Wickizer led a comprehensive compliance review, addressing several key areas, including:

Standard Operating Procedures and emergency plans

Hazardous Materials (HazMat) planning

Safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) policies

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) supplies and medication inventory

Updates to Special Districts Insurance Services (SDIS) documents

District officials said her work provided an important opportunity to apply administrative, regulatory, and operational knowledge in a real-world emergency services setting.

The resulting updates are expected to strengthen safety, efficiency, and overall compliance across the department.

“We are confident these contributions will support our mission and daily operations moving forward,” the district reports.