The City of The Dalles and Northern Wasco County, Oregon have experienced a long, distinguished and colorful fire protection service, beginning in 1859 with the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 to today's Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue was formed by a vote of the people consolidating the City of The Dalles Fire Department with the Wasco Rural Fire Protection District effective July 1, 1995. The name changed from Wasco Rural Fire Protection District to Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue on May 16, 1996.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue operates under Oregon Law as a Fire Protection District providing fire protection services including suppression and prevention activities as well as emergency medical services and ambulance services. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue provides fire protection to an area of approximately 110 square miles encompassing a population of over 14,000 people. The service area includes the City of The Dalles and a large portion of Northern Wasco County. It is important to note that the area served constitutes about 80% of the population of the entire County and the concentration of the commercial and industrial enterprises of the County. A significant tourism business within the service area causes an increase to the population served, at times to an excess of 30,000. The ambulance service operated by Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue serves an area of over 200 square miles, including The Dalles port area.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue is governed by a five member Board of Directors, elected at large from the service area. The Board serve four year staggered terms. The District has 23 career employees and operations are managed by a Fire Chief who in turn is assisted by an Assistant Chief, Fire Marshal, Administrative Assistant, and Finance Officer. Line staff includes 3 Captains, 3 Lieutenants and 12 Engineers. The District also relies heavily on its dedicated Volunteers of where there are currently 36 positions filled with billets for 40. The District also has a Cadet Program made up of 15-18 year old High School students.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue operates from a tax base established in FY 95/96 as part of the consolidation at $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The District also receives revenue from the ambulance service and other areas. The budget for FY 06/07 is $3,678,140. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue operates a fiscally conservative and sound fire protection and ambulance service.