By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times
Shortly after 8 a.m., I walked into one of the open bay doors at Hoodland Fire District’s main station, unsure of what to expect from the day ahead. One of the engines was parked out front, getting a thorough scrub-down. Armed with my travel mug of coffee, a notebook, and a pen, I dressed comfortably and came prepared — at least, as prepared as one can be — for a ride-along with the local fire department.
Lieutenant Evan Jarvis met me outside, and we walked in through the side door together. Inside, we sat at a table in the dining area as he explained how calls come through. “When we get dispatched,” he said, “there will be a tone followed by an alert. If you look at the black reader bar over the door, it’ll show the type of incident and the location.” Throughout the building and bays, a woman’s voice reads out county-wide events. “We have speakers out front as well,” he added. “And on the side of the building, there’s a flashing red strobe light so we can at least see that there’s been a call.”
For now it was quiet, so we chatted while volunteers and students busily handled their morning chores. Soon, we were joined by Firefighter Engineer and Paramedic Pat McAbery — my longtime friend — who would be my guide for the rest of the day.
I asked about the fire engines (not fire trucks, a layman’s mistake — trucks are the vehicles with tall ladders). “We have six apparatus here that can respond,” Jarvis explained. “Three are traditional fire engines, which we use most often. There’s one stationed at Government Camp, one at Brightwood, and one here at the main station.”
“We also have two water tenders, since a lot of our area doesn’t have hydrants. Or, even if they do, they’re not great,” McAbery added. “All our vehicles can draft water from a pond or pool, or use a hydrant, or get water from another vehicle. That’s really important up here.”
McAbery is a retired firefighter from Gresham Fire Department, but this mountain community is where it all started for him. He grew up here and was once a volunteer with Hoodland Fire.
Later, Division Chief Brian Henrichs stopped by to talk about the cadet programs and the roles of district volunteers and student firefighters. Cadets are ages 12 – 18, while student firefighters are 18 and up. These students work full shifts — what the department calls a 48/96 schedule: two days on, four days off. They also attend college and help manage the Government Camp station.
I asked for a tour, and McAbery spent some time showing me around the engines and the tools stored on each one. Staff worked around us as I tried to stay out of the way. Then at 12:35, I realized that there was a tone sounding, followed by instructions. McAbery looked at me and said, “And we have a call. Let’s go.”
No time to check the reader bar. I climbed into the backseat of the engine, put on the headset (after a reminder), and buckled in. We arrived at a home nestled among the trees. I stayed back as the team went in. Assessing the situation, the Hoodland team checked the gentleman over, ran some tests, and then talked with him until the ambulance arrived. Afterward, the crew packed up their gear and we went back to the station.
I’ve been on the receiving end of this type of service more times than I’d like to count with a beloved family member. I know what it means to the family, and to the person who needs help. These teams arrive swiftly, assess the situation, and with such kindness, they offer what help they can, and stay until it’s handled. Then, just as quickly, they move on — back to the station to restock the engine, attend a class, study, or take care of any number of responsibilities.
While I was at lunch, there was another call, but the rest of the afternoon was quiet. I sat in on a paramedic class and listened with interest. About 6 p.m. I left for home, but these firefighter paramedics – who work 48/96 shifts – had dinner and eventually tried to rest – until the next call.
At the end of the day, I walked away with a renewed appreciation for these professionals. For them, it was just another day. But for those who need their help — it’s everything.