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, which has 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 400 calls annually, 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 the application process, 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 a shift after completing a six to eight week fire academy and a 14-day accelerated EMT course through UNITEK. 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 in 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 of 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 would like to schedule a visit or ride-a-long, please contact

FF/Paramedic Grace Schuhmann
(541) 595-2288
[email protected]