By Jayson Jaco
Baker City Herald
BAKER CITY, Ore. — Baker City Fire Chief Michael Carlson envisions a future when many, if not most, of the city’s firefighters started their careers as teenage cadets in their hometown.
But even if the new cadet program doesn’t turn into an employee pipeline for the department, Carlson is excited about helping youngsters gain valuable job and life skills.
“I feel like it’s going to be a successful program,” Carlson said on Monday, Nov. 17 . “All the professional firefighters are willing to step up and make it a success.”
Carlson, who started as fire chief in April of this year, said he was encouraged by the number of students — more than 75 — who signed up for a presentation about the fire department and the cadet program during a day-long career conference Oct. 27 at Baker High School.
He said he appreciates the city’s partnership with the school district.
A meeting for potential cadets and their parents is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the BHS library, 2500 E St.
“This is a really awesome opportunity for some of our students,” Nicole Sullivan, future center facilitator at BHS, wrote in a notice to parents.
Carlson said he will hand out applications for the cadet program during the meeting. Applications are due by Dec. 1.
More information is available by calling the fire department at 541-523-3711.
The program
Carlson said anyone from age 14 to 19 can apply to become a cadet.
He hopes to schedule interviews with applicants during the first half of December.
A four- to six-week recruit training, which will take place on weekends, will start in early January, Carlson said.
Cadets will learn skills during the training, such as how to put on turnouts (firefighters’ specialized clothing and equipment) and using a radio.
“The basic skills that every firefighter knows,” Carlson said.
Students who finish the training will have a graduation ceremony and recite an oath to officially become cadets. They’ll then meet twice a month, on every other Wednesday, for more training.
Younger cadets, ages 14 and 15, will focus on classroom lessons covering a variety of topics, Carlson said.
Cadets 16 and older can accompany firefighters on actual calls, serving primarily as observers.
Carlson said cadets will be assigned to safe tasks such as setting up warning tape to keep people away from fires, and handing out water bottles to firefighters.
“There won’t be any danger,” he said.
At age 16, cadets are eligible to start work on a “task book” — a list of skills that all firefighters must complete to become certified in Oregon, Carlson said.
Cadets will also learn skills required to become a certified emergency medical technician. The first step, attainable at age 16, is a certified emergency medical responder, Carlson said.
He said most fire departments are looking for workers who are certified as firefighters and EMTs.
Carlson said his ultimate goal is to help cadets gain the skills they need to become certified firefighters and EMTs at age 18, the minimum age that Oregon allows.
The program also will give cadets chances for community service — staffing public information booths at Miners Jubilee and other events, for instance, or helping with blood pressure clinics at the Senior Center.
Cadets 16 and older will be able to earn “ride-along” time with firefighters based on the number of community service hours they contribute, Carlson said.
For younger cadets, he intends to award a helmet to the one with the most service hours, and a custom radio strap for the runner-up.
Leadership
In addition to gaining skills, cadets will have a chance to become more confident leaders, Carlson said.
One cadet will serve as chief of the program, and others will oversee a smaller group of cadets.
“I want to give them the leadership abilities,” Carlson said.
Even if cadets decide they’re not interested in a firefighting career, they can hone skills, including undergoing an interview, that will help them regardless of their career path, he said.
Carlson said he would like to enroll a new class of cadets each year.
In the end, though, the program’s success will depend on how eager cadets are, and how dedicated to taking advantage of the opportunity, he said.
“It’s all going to be up to the students to make the program what they want it to be,” Carlson said.
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