By Ty Walker, For The Mountain Times
When he was a young teenager, Jonathan Frank was inspired by his father. He saw all the cool things his father did as a volunteer firefighter for the Hoodland Fire District in Welches.
He saw the positive impact his father made on the community he served, as part of a first-responder team in times of emergency. He wanted to be just like dad.
In 2014, at the age of 14, Frank signed up for the Hoodland Fire District Cadet Program to see what being a firefighter was all about. He knew he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field but also one that kept him physically active.
Frank’s father, Kevin Frank, joined Hoodland Fire in 2012 and volunteered for the district for about eight years.
“When he joined, I saw the things he did, the calls he went on, and how he was affecting the community in a positive way,” Jonathan said. “I decided to sign up for the program and try it out. I fell in love with it. I made it my life’s goal and passion to make myself be the best firefighter and provider I could be.”
Jonathan spent four years as a cadet in Hoodland, learning basic firefighting skills, before he moved on to a student program offered by Jefferson County Fire in Madras. He earned his fire science degree and EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification over the next two years at Central Oregon Community College.
Jonathan went to work in 2022 for the Warm Springs Fire District before coming home to Hoodland to start his career as a full time firefighter and paramedic. Now 24, living with his family in Brightwood, it is special for him to serve in the community in where he was raised.
“I like being involved in the community, making an impact on the people we serve,” Jonathan said. “Especially now. I grew up in the area of Welches and Hoodland. It’s kind of full circle. I get to come back to the people who raised me and the people I grew up with and serve this community.
“It’s also very challenging,” Jonathan said. “It always keeps you on your toes. you never know what the next second is going to bring you. Every day is not the same. One second you can be doing paperwork, the next you can be on a wreck or fire helping someone.”
Jonathan has already faced challenging circumstances during his young career, including numerous residential and commercial structure fires as well as a 10,000-acre wildfire. Remember, it’s up to first-responders to be the calm ones during an emergency.
Jonathan was part of a team responding to a mass casualty incident (MCI) call when he worked for Warm Springs Fire.
“MCIs are where you have multiple vehicle wrecks at the same time in the same area, where you have dozens of patients,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan keeps an active lifestyle when he’s not at work. He enjoys weight training and powerlifting, hiking and fishing. He also likes to take his 1999 Jeep Wrangler off road on Mount Hood or in the Tillamook National Forest, According to the Hoodland Fire District website, the Fire Cadet Program is designed to introduce youth ages 12-18 to the world of fire and emergency services. Participants gain valuable exposure to career experiences, leadership development, and community service opportunities.
Through hands-on training in a structured learning environment, cadets learn basic firefighting and emergency response skills from experienced instructors.
Cadets meet 6 to 8 p.m. every Monday at Hoodland Fire District’s Main Station in Welches. It is free to participate in the program.