Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District

Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Welcome to the official page of the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District. Your safety is our top priority. Requests for service CANNOT be made via this site.

At Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District, we are committed to keeping our communities safe, connected, and protected - every second, every call, every day. At Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District, our mission is to ensure that every resident and visitor in Columbia County has immediate access to emergency services when it matters most. Serving as the essential link between the community and first responders, we are dedicated to providing fast, reliable, and professional 9-1-1 dispatch services. Our dedicated team works around the clock to connect the community to law enforcement, fire districts, medical personnel, and essential community services - because everyone deserves to feel safe, protected, and cared for in our community. PLEASE CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY

This site IS NOT monitored on a full time basis.

We will never forget.
09/11/2026

We will never forget.

🚨 AUGUST 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨August was another busy month for public safety across Columbia County, with Columbia 9-1-...
09/10/2026

🚨 AUGUST 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨

August was another busy month for public safety across Columbia County, with Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District handling:

📞 7,681 total phone calls
☎️ 2,127 9-1-1 calls and texts

Our dispatchers also coordinated:

🚔 5,385 law enforcement calls for service
🚦 678 traffic stops
🚒🚑 1,218 fire and EMS calls

That means our communications center handled more than 6,600 responder activities during August alone - all while continuing to answer emergency and non-emergency phone lines and support public safety operations around the clock.

August also brought an important milestone for our team.

🎉 Congratulations to Autumn on graduating from our Field Training Program!

After months of classroom instruction, certifications, hands-on training, evaluations, and supervised field experience, Autumn has officially joined our ranks as an independent dispatcher. Her graduation brings Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District to 12 certified dispatchers serving Columbia County.

And as one dispatcher completes the journey, another is beginning it!

👋 Welcome to Nate, who entered our Field Training Program in August. Nate is one of two dispatchers currently in training as they work toward the knowledge, skills, certifications, and experience required to serve independently.

Training a 9-1-1 dispatcher takes many months and requires an experienced Certified Training Officer to work alongside each trainee throughout the process. Every successful graduation represents a significant investment by the trainee, their trainers, and our entire team.

Behind every number we share is a community member who needed assistance and the law enforcement officers, deputies, firefighters, EMS professionals, and other responders who relied on our communications center to help coordinate their response.

We are proud of the progress our team is making, proud of our public safety partners, and proud to serve Columbia County 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Please join us in congratulating Autumn and welcoming Nate! 🎉

🚨 JULY 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨As we catch up on our summer statistics, here is a look back at the public safety activity c...
09/10/2026

🚨 JULY 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨

As we catch up on our summer statistics, here is a look back at the public safety activity coordinated by Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District during July.

Throughout the month, our team handled:

📞 7,341 total phone calls
☎️ 2,041 9-1-1 calls and texts

Our dispatchers also coordinated:

🚔 5,482 law enforcement calls for service
🚦 762 traffic stops
🚒🚑 1,143 fire and EMS calls

July was another busy summer month for public safety across Columbia County. Compared with June, overall phone volume increased, along with law enforcement calls for service, traffic stops, and fire and EMS activity.

Behind every statistic is a person or a public safety responder who relied on our communications center. A single call for service can mean coordinating multiple responding units, monitoring radio traffic and responder safety, communicating with partner agencies, dispatching additional resources, and continuing to support an incident long after the original 9-1-1 call has ended.

Throughout July, this work was carried out by 11 certified dispatchers and 2 dispatchers in training. Because trainees are not yet able to work independently, each works alongside a Certified Training Officer as they develop the skills necessary to become an independent dispatcher.

We are grateful for the dedication of our dispatchers and for the law enforcement, fire, EMS, and public safety professionals we work alongside throughout Columbia County.

Thank you for allowing Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District to serve you.

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 10This week marks the conclusion of our Emergency Communications Explained s...
08/13/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 10

This week marks the conclusion of our Emergency Communications Explained series.

Over the past ten weeks, we explored what happens when you call 9-1-1, why dispatchers ask questions, how location information is used, when to call 9-1-1, Emergency Medical Dispatch, what happens after help is sent, how information reaches responders, and how multiple agencies work together during emergencies.

While every emergency is different, one theme has remained consistent throughout the series: emergency communications is about connecting people with help.

Thank you for following along, asking questions, and learning more about the work that takes place behind the scenes every day at Columbia 9-1-1.

We look forward to continuing to share information about emergency communications, public safety, and our community in future posts.

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 9Many emergencies involve more than one agency.A traffic crash may involve l...
08/06/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 9

Many emergencies involve more than one agency.

A traffic crash may involve law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical responders, a tow company, and transportation officials. A wildfire may involve multiple fire agencies, law enforcement, emergency management personnel, utility companies, and other support organizations.

One of the dispatcher’s responsibilities is helping keep those agencies connected by sharing information, coordinating resources, and supporting communication throughout the incident.

While responders are working in the field, dispatchers continue documenting activity, relaying updates, and helping ensure information reaches the right people at the right time.

Emergency response is a team effort, and emergency communications plays an important role in keeping that team connected.

This is Week 9 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 8Not all 9-1-1 calls are handled the same way.The information needed for a p...
07/30/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 8

Not all 9-1-1 calls are handled the same way.

The information needed for a police response may be very different from the information needed for a fire or medical emergency. That’s why dispatchers ask different questions depending on the situation.

For example, police calls may focus on suspect information, vehicles, or ongoing activity. Fire calls often focus on hazards, building information, and life safety concerns. Medical calls may involve patient symptoms, injuries, or providing emergency medical instructions before responders arrive.

While the details may differ, the goal remains the same: gathering the information needed to connect callers with the right resources and support responders as they make their way to the scene.

This is Week 8 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/29/2026

The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Advisory Committee held its regular quarterly meeting on July 28, 2026, bringing together representatives from law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, local government, and other public safety partners to discuss the future of emergency communications in Columbia County.

Many people are familiar with our elected Board of Directors, but fewer know about the Advisory Committee and the important role it plays in the District’s governance.

As an independent special district, Columbia 9-1-1 is organized under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 401.857, which requires every communications district to establish an Advisory Committee. The committee is composed of representatives from the agencies and jurisdictions served by the District and serves as a formal advisory body to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing District policy, adopting budgets, and making final decisions. The Advisory Committee provides operational expertise, discusses emerging challenges, evaluates opportunities, and makes recommendations that help inform those decisions. This structure ensures the agencies that rely on the 9-1-1 system every day have a voice in its continued development.

During this quarter’s meeting, the committee received updates on District operations, staffing, training, and technology initiatives. Members also recognized the District’s Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award-winning Training Team and heard vendor presentations regarding options for modernizing Columbia County’s public safety radio system. The committee discussed long-term radio system planning and agreed to hold a special meeting to continue evaluating available options before making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District is committed to transparent government and collaborative public safety. We appreciate the time and expertise our Advisory Committee members contribute in support of the communities we serve.

Meeting agendas, approved minutes, and additional information about the District and its Advisory Committee are available at www.columbia911.com.

July Meeting Recording:
https://youtu.be/lU520efr5g0?si=OpGJKb8IpepNKssJ

Meeting documents:
https://www.columbia911.com/general/meeting/advisory-committee-meeting-23

🚨 JUNE 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨Summer activity is increasing across Columbia County, and Columbia 9-1-1 Communications Dist...
07/28/2026

🚨 JUNE 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨

Summer activity is increasing across Columbia County, and Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District remains at the center of the response.

During June, our team answered:

📞 7,235 total phone calls
☎️ 2,032 emergency 9-1-1 calls

Our dispatchers also coordinated 7,167 public safety activities, including:

🚔 5,348 law enforcement calls for service
🚦 755 of those were traffic stops
🚒🚑 1,064 fire and emergency medical calls

Although total incoming calls decreased slightly from May, the amount of public safety activity coordinated by our center increased by nearly 22%. Law enforcement calls for service increased by approximately 31%, while traffic-stop activity increased by nearly 9%.

These statistics represent the combined work of the entire public safety system. Behind every number is a community member needing assistance and a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical responder, or other public safety partner relying on timely information and dependable communication.

Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District currently operates with 11 certified dispatchers and 2 dispatchers in training. Because trainees cannot work independently, their Certified Training Officers must remain dedicated to supervising and guiding them throughout each shift. This means two-person training teams function operationally as a single working position while new dispatchers develop the skills needed to serve independently.

We are proud to serve alongside our law enforcement, fire, EMS, and public safety partners, and we remain committed to being there for our community whenever help is needed.

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 7When you call 9-1-1, dispatchers do more than answer the phone and send hel...
07/23/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 7

When you call 9-1-1, dispatchers do more than answer the phone and send help.

Information gathered from callers is shared with responding police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel through radios, mobile computers, mapping systems, and other emergency communications tools.

Responders often receive more than just an address. Depending on the incident, they may receive information about injuries, hazards, suspect descriptions, access instructions, changing conditions, and updates provided by callers.

As situations change, dispatchers continue updating responding units to help them prepare for what they will encounter when they arrive.

This is Week 7 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/20/2026

❤️ Monday Morning 9-1-1 Quiz: Sudden Cardiac Arrest

You’re attending a parade, festival, or community event when someone suddenly collapses. They’re unconscious and making occasional gasping or snoring-like sounds.

Would you know what to do?

Many people mistake these sounds for normal breathing, but they can actually be a sign of cardiac arrest. When someone is unconscious and not breathing normally, every second counts.

That’s why the correct answer is:

✅ Call 9-1-1 and start CPR.

Immediate CPR and AED use can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. The sooner chest compressions begin, the better the outcome may be.

Don’t let a lack of training stop you from helping. Our dispatchers will quickly determine if a patient may be in cardiac arrest and provide CPR instructions over the phone while we start help. We’ll stay on the line, coach you through each compression, and support you until first responders arrive and take over care.

One of the most important things to remember is that gasping, snoring, or occasional breaths are not normal breathing. If someone is unconscious and only making these types of sounds, call 9-1-1 immediately.

You don’t have to be a medical professional to save a life, sometimes being willing to make the call and follow instructions is enough to make all the difference.

Address

58611 McNulty Way
Saint Helens, OR
97051

Telephone

+15033971521

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