Student Program

About Us

Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District is a combination career and volunteer department that serves an area of approximately 3 square miles in the mountainous shadows of the Central Oregon Cascades. The department serves the resort community of Black Butte Ranch with a permanent population of about 300 residents and a destination population that can be as high as 5000-7000 during the peak summer months.

Our Fire District responds to an average of 300 calls per year with an average of 90% being medical-related.  Due to many of our year-round  residents and guests being elderly, we tend to have more cardiac-related calls per capita than the average fire district.  In addition to our primary fire district and Ambulance Service Area (ASA), we also have “Automatic” and “Mutual” aid agreements in place for Fire/EMS with Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department as well as the other Central Oregon Fire Departments.

About Our Program

Historically, Black Butte Ranch’s demographics do not support a traditional fire department volunteer system for providing Fire & EMS services to our citizens.  Therefore in 1986 we developed a “Resident Volunteer Program” that provided aspiring career-minded young adult who affiliate with BBR RFPD and volunteer their time in exchange for training, hands-on experience, and educational support in pursuit of college degrees in Fire/EMS related fields.  Our resident volunteers are essential to our day-to-day operations and emergency response system.

To be eligible for our program, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age by the 1st day of Academy (mid June)
  • Valid Oregon Driver’s License
  • Be insurable by Black Butte Ranch RFPD insurance carrier
  • High School Diploma, G.E.D. or Certificate of Advanced Mastery
  • Physician note citing you are fit for the duties of a firefighter
  • Pass application process, written evaluation, physical agility and oral interview
  • Be enrolled in the Structural Fire Science and/or EMS programs at COCC

As a student, you will be assigned to a shift after completing a six to eight week academy.  Once you have successfully passed the academy you will be assigned a shift and you will:

  • Learn to drive and operate an ambulance and fire apparatus
  • Be trained to respond to emergencies
  • Learn how to use and maintain several types of firefighting equipment
  • Learn the principles of firefighting, fire prevention, fire control and EMS
  • Be trained on the operation and maintenance of lifesaving equipment
  • Learn the principles of physical fitness and healthy-in, healthy-out
  • Receive hours of hands-on experience
  • Learn the skills and techniques of good customer service

If chosen by Black Butte Ranch RFPD, you will receive a scholarship that covers tuition and books.  Each scholarship position is for two years, with the potential of continuing for a third year to obtain your paramedic degree.  You will also receive a monthly fuel reimbursement up to $450, uniforms, PPE and the use of the many amenities at Black Butte Ranch.

We take pride in our program and have a very successful placement rate of students completing the program (usually finishing with dual AAS degrees) and moving into a fire and EMS career position.  Our goal is to guide you through the process and set you up for success in becoming great firefighters and EMS professionals.

If you have any questions regarding the Resident Volunteer Program at Black Butte Ranch RFPD, or you would like to schedule a visit or ride-a-long, please contact:

DEPUTY CHIEF JASON ELLISON
(541) 595-2288
[email protected]