On a sunny morning by Aberdeen’s southern fire station, a gaggle of high schoolers kitted in firefighter gear gather around the Hoquiam Fire Department’s Derek Jensen as he explains the finer points of using firehoses to knock down a fire.
A few dozen yards away, Capt. Larissa Rohr shows another group of high schoolers how to link up a fire hydrant to an engine.
It’s all in the service of a Harbor Skills Center Fire Science Academy — a joint effort between the Aberdeen and Hoquiam fire departments to introduce high schoolers to the world of firefighting and emergency medical services.
“There’s an application process to allow high school students who are interested in the fire service to earn credits this summer learning about fire science and EMS,” Rohr said in an interview. “It’s a very basic introduction to what we do. But it’s a great start for us to implement a program for kids who are interested in Grays Harbor.”
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Capt. Larissa Rohr of the Hoquiam Fire Department, teaches a group of high schoolers taking part in a fire science program about linking a fire engine to a hydrant.
Seven incoming juniors and seniors from around the county are going through the program, Rohr said.
“We have Aberdeen, Montesano, Hoquiam and Wishkah represented. That’s pretty cool,” Rohr said. “They’re going to obtain their CPR and first aid card through the program.”
The students are learning quickly, said Mitch Housden, AFD’s fire service specialist, who helped to organize the program. It’s based loosely off Montesano High School’s fire science program, which runs through the school year, Housden said.
“It’s exciting to see the kids growing interest and smile after learning something new and learning they can do some difficult task,” Housden said.
Grow your own
Part of the intent of the program is to give high schoolers who might be interested in firefighting as a career a chance to experience the smallest slice of the life, with the idea that they may eventually join a local department, Housden said.
“It takes manpower to do. It’s a good step to how we can grow it in the future,” Housden said. “This is a great program. I think the skill center helped get it running for us.”
Rohr said that many firefighters got their first taste with similar programs.
“A lot of us started doing programs like that,” Rohr said. “It led to a career.”
For some of the students, it’s the first time they’ve considered looking into a job firefighting.
“It’s fun — just something to do, and to experience it,” said Matthew Erickson, a junior at Wishkah Valley School. “It’s been good, very fun, interesting.”
For others, it’s in line with their plans.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Hoquiam High School Senior Avery Howard learns to tighten a fire hydrant as part of a fire science program.
“I love it. When I graduate, I’m looking forward to pursuing this as a career,” said Avery Howard, a senior at Hoquiam High School. “I wanna help people.”
Housden thanked Lynn Green at the Twin Harbor Skills Center for helping to pull together the program. Planning for the program began in spring, Housden said.
“During the last month of school, the counselor and my dad talked to me about it,” Erickson said. “There’s a lot more to it than I thought there was. The different smokes, and how things work.”
Howard said she’s interested in a career in firefighting here in the county and that getting started here was a way to move toward that goal.
“I think that it’s gonna be useful for the future,” Howard said. “Learning everything about it.”
The students were taught the foundational art of getting kitted up in their protective gear with alacrity.
“Within the first day, people were getting their gear on in under a minute,” Housden said. “By day two, half the class had gotten it down.”
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Capt. Larissa Rohr of the Hoquiam Fire Department teaches a group of high schoolers taking part in a fire science program about water pressure.
The two-week daytime course covers a variety of subjects, Rohr said, wrapping up next week.
“They’re passionate about learning and they’re picking up the tricks of the trade quickly. Things that we have worked on so far are putting on PPE, the bunker gear. Today is hose evolutions,” Rohr said. “How to flow water, how to handle the hose. There will be stations such as throwing ladders. There will be a couple days on emergency medicine.”
Housden said he hopes the class is able to run sessions each year, and to reach out to outlying communities like the beach towns to give their high schoolers a chance to participate. For now, these seven students will keep learning the basics of the job, as they also get their CPR and first aid qualifications.
“The fire service is all about networking,” Rohr said. “Getting their foot in the door and getting to know professional firefighters from Aberdeen and Hoquiam who are running the class can help them in the future.”
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Derek Jensen of the Hoquiam Fire Department teaches a group of high schoolers taking part in a fire science program about using a firehose.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Derek Jensen of the Hoquiam Fire Department, right, teaches a group of high schoolers taking part in a fire science program about using a firehose.
