La Pine RFPD trains new recruit firefighters

On August 21st, La Pine firefighters welcomed six new student firefighters starting the 2014 Firefighter I Academy.

The intensive academy consisted of 32 full days with over 250 hours of class room, practical skill and exercise scenarios for basic firefighting and rescue which will be completed on Sunday, September 28 th .

After hours, the firefighters had homework and physical fitness requirements to complete each day.

Firefighters will receive their State of Oregon FF I certification upon successful completion as well as completing basic wildland firefighting, CPR, and mandatory OSHA safety certifications.

After the academy, the new recruits will be assigned shifts with the fire district and they will continue both their experience and education. The new student firefighters that will complete the academy this year are Daegen Carter, Lucas Fortune, Carson Goss, Dylan Weimer, and Zachary Wilcox.

The La Pine Fire District Firefighter Scholarship Program has up to 12 students who each year attend the fire science, ems and/or paramedic programs at Central Oregon Community College and are assigned to one of the district’s three fire stations.

These are highly competitive and are basically full ride scholarships.

Prospective students apply in mid-winter for the upcoming school year and compete in scholarly achievements, aptitude, and physical fitness. They must maintain good grades and a rigorous schedule with a level of maturity well above their peers in order to maintain their scholarship and to excel in their schooling.

In the last few months, La Pine Fire students graduates have accepted full time firefighter and paramedic employment with Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Hermiston Fire & Rescue, and Baker City and are just a few of the many now employed around the State of Oregon and Pacific Northwest.

The success and excellence of the La Pine student reserve program is due to the unwavering support and efforts of the La Pine Fire career staff, the senior students and reserves along with program coordinators Captain Mark Pautz and Engineer Chris Jones and the direct support from the District’s Board of Directors and the Community.