VIDEO: Oregon’s wildfire season means all hands on deck. Firefighters of all different backgrounds join the front lines – sometimes, it’s incarcerated youth fighting the flames, choosing to learn a career and help the community. Everything always goes back to Riverbend,” said Carson McDowell, a forest technician with the Oregon Department of Forestry. He’s in his 11th fire season and counting. Riverbend is a vocational education camp in La Grande where older youth in detention choose to learn a career. It’s known for its fire crew, established in 2011.
“We are the real deal,” said educator Rick Snyder. “We’re not a watered-down version, we’re a real firefighting crew.” Working with the state and contractors gives the young crew real experience. “Every fire’s different, but every fire has the same goal,” said Kyle, a “squad boss” in his third season at Riverbend. “I’m looking at taking care of the guys, making sure they’re all hydrated, making sure they’re doing everything right.” It’s hard work. They average six fires a summer, where they’re treated like any other crew.
“You work with people all across the state,” said Izzy, in his second season. “Guys you don’t even know are helping keep us motivated, like, ‘C’mon guys, you got this.’” The Riverbend crew has grown to high regard in the greater La Grande community, too. “We’re filling up with gas, people will buy them an energy drink or something just for being a firefighter. A lot of these guys have not had that experience before,” Snyder said.
