15th Annual Portland Metro Fire Camp Hosted at Portland Fire & Rescue Training Center (Photo)

July 12, 2023 08:45

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Portland Fire & Rescue Training Facility
4800 NE 122nd Avenue – 97230
Friday July 14
10:30 AM
Meet in front of Bay Doors of PF&R Fire Station 2

 15th Annual Portland Metro Fire Camp Hosted at Portland Fire & Rescue Training Center

Portland Fire & Rescue is honored to host the first of two Portland Metro Fire Camps this weekend at the PF&R training facility. This camp began in 2009 with the intent of increasing awareness of firefighting and other male dominated fields as possible career paths for young women. The camp's growth over the first ten years led to the addition of a second camp in 2018, sponsored by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, that has fostered increased exposure to the fire service to many young women throughout the greater Portland Metropolitan area. The Portland Camp will operate this weekend, Friday – Sunday, July 14-16, from 8 AM to 4 PM daily.

The three-day camp will have the participants rotating through many activities, all of which are firefighting tasks that are designed to instill confidence, build teamwork, and inspire the participants to recognize their strength and ability to pursue a career they may never have otherwise considered.  The planned stations are Interview skills, Search & Rescue, Hose Handling, Chainsaws, Forcible Entry, Aerial Ladder Climbing, Knot Tying, and Vehicle Extrication.

The 47 campers from Oregon and Washington between the ages of 16-22 go through an application process that includes a letter of interest composed by the participant to ensure each candidate is interested in opportunities provided through the camp. PFMC is staffed by 55 female camp counselors, primarily professional firefighters from Oregon, Washington, and California. Along with the firefighters, there are a few police officers and local Mountain Rescue Team members to round out the skilled professionals guiding the young women over the weekend. Uniquely, there is a family of 3 female firefighters, all from different agencies, acting as counselors this year, with 2 of these sisters being PMFC alums.

Portland Metro Fire Camp would like to thank the following agencies and organizations for their contributions that allow the camp to operate this year: Portland Fire & Rescue (Use of facility and Equipment), Northwest Safety Clean (Cleaning of Turnout Gear), Parr Lumber (Plywood), Loop Hi-Way Towing (Vehicles), and Bullard Fire Helmets (Helmets and use of specialized equipment). PMFC would also like to thank the following organizations for their financial contributions to help provide food and other required supplies: IAFF Local 43 (Portland Fire), IAFF Local 314 (Salem Firefighters), IAFF Local 452 (Vancouver Fire), IAFF Local 1159 (Clackamas Fire), IAFF Local 1660 (Tualatin Valley Firefighters), Fire Restoration, and the Portland Fire Chiefs Association.

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