Dawson Kooch, Brandon Bergeron, Matt Garcia and Lucas Staples have been
thrown into the fire – figuratively speaking – in their early days with the
Hoodland Fire District’s (HFD) resident program in Government Camp. The

four live in the recently renovated fire station while serving as the first
responders around Government Camp, meaning they may have to wait 20
minutes before other responders arrive on the scene.

“Having that station staffed has been wonderful,” HFD interim chief Steven
Abel said. “They’re absolutely energetic. I’m glad we have competent people
up there.”

For example, Abel noted, Dawson responded to a motorcycle accident in
September and was able to get a helicopter from the Life Flight Network on its
way to help before any other responders arrived.

“A lot can happen in 20 minutes,” said Kooch, a 20-year-old who grew up in
Damascus and has been at the station for three months. “It’s a lot to take in.
A lot of big decisions need to be made.”

There was also the cardiac arrest patient up at Timberline, the head-on
collision on Hwy. 26 involving a semi-truck and multiple other vehicles at 4
a.m. and the RV fire.

“That was a new experience for me,” said Bergeron, also 20, who grew up in
Sandy and has been at the station for two months. “Rolling up on that was
like, ‘Whoa. This (RV) is ripping.’”

The group lives at the station, performing normal chores, training and
maintaining a professional atmosphere, while also looking to build a career in
the fire service. Garcia is a paramedic intern, Kooch and Staples take an
Emergency Medical Technician course through Mount Hood Community
College, while Bergeron works a part-time job at the Mt. Hood Athletic Club in
Sandy.

“Days that just one of us are here, those are the most exciting days,” Kooch
said.

Staples is the newest addition, starting at the station in early October. The
21-year-old Sandy High School graduate noted he had met Kooch while at the
district’s academy and had met Bergeron at the gym, has found the early
experiences of living and working together to be enjoyable.

“It’s honestly been great,” Staples said.

“It’s like a scene out of ‘Step Brothers,’” he added, referring to the movie
starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.

The residential program, which survived after a similar student program got
cut due to monetary reasons, may make another positive impact on the
community with an updated Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, which
insurance companies use to help set insurance rates. Abel noted a survey was
recently completed and a new rating is expected.

“I am concerned about ISO ratings, but even more important is the service
(residents of Government Camp) are getting now,” Abel said, adding that he
hopes the higher visibility may attract more local people to participate in the
district.

And the public is starting to take notice. Kooch noted in his first couple weeks,
nobody said anything, but in September somebody stopped by with some
energy drinks for them. And later in the month, the responders went out on a
nighttime call and a resident serenaded them with a chant of “Hoodland Fire.”

“It was kind of cool,” Bergeron said. “It was nice to feel supportive.”

Kooch, who met Bergeron for the first time earlier this year, noted that living
at the station means that there’s the possibility of a tone at any time,
signifying the need to respond to a call, keeping them on their toes.

“At any point, you never know when someone’s going to need help,” he said.
“It helps the day go by quicker, that’s for sure.”