Student Firefighter Focused on Career
When she was a young girl growing up in Washington, Scarlet Rohrscheib lived near a fire station and her father was on the Snohomish Public Safety Committee board.
By Ty Walker, The Mountain Times
When she was a young girl growing up in Washington, Scarlet Rohrscheib lived near a fire station and her father was on the Snohomish Public Safety Committee board.
Being the daughter of a public safety board member came with its perks. She got to experience the thrill of riding on the fire department ladder truck in the local parade. Positive experiences with emergency and fire services made a lasting impression that she brought with her when she moved to Oregon as a teenager.
“I knew I wanted to be a firefighter so I joined the cadet program through Clackamas Fire,” Scarlet said.
The next step was enrolling in a strong student program that would train her to become a full time firefighter. She thinks she found an excellent program in Hoodland.
“Researching student programs, I found this one and applied to it and I'm really glad I’m in this one,” she said.
Scarlet is the Mountain Times Fire Focus Hoodland Fire District Firefighter for the month of October.
Scarlet visited Mount Hood for the first time, with her dad, about a year ago last August, before she even knew about the Hoodland Student Program. They took in the sights at Trillium Lake and checked out Ski Bowl.
She never thought she’d end up learning the ropes of firefighting on the beautiful mountain she explored with her dad a year ago.
“I really liked the environment not knowing it was where I would end up,” she said.
Now here she is a year later on track to graduate from the Hoodland Fire District Student Program in December. She is the only female in a class of four students.
Her goal is to continue with the program an optional extra year to earn her paramedic license and become a full time firefighter paramedic.
A 2026 graduate of Rex Putnam High School, Scarlet is living in the Government Camp fire station during her training. Hoodland Fire District pays her room and board and a $550 per month stipend for living expenses.
“Once I get my EMT,” she said. “I’m going to work hard on my paramedic.”
Her training involves taking regular shifts with emergency crews, working hands-on alongside career firefighters, and responding to real calls. She has participated on a trail rescue, assisted on a few car wrecks and medical calls, and helped put out a car fire.
“A volunteer had already extinguished the car fire,” Scarlet said. “I got to spray the foam on it, which was pretty fun.”
She said she likes the exposure she gets working in a small community like Hoodland in Welches.
“In small communities, we’re able to help give back to our community what they give us and show my skills I’ve gained from being a cadet for Clackamas,” she said. “Also being able to learn and teach others.”
Outside of training to become a firefighter, Scarlet has many other interests.
“I like spending time outdoors and hiking, and I’m super into art,” She said. “Any chance I get, I’m most likely doing something creative. I like painting and I also like designing T-shirts.”
Last year at high school, Scarlet raised $7,000 for breast cancer research and awareness selling T-shirts. Her grandmother is a cancer survivor.
Scarlet is focusing on her goal of becoming a career full time firefighter paramedic, preferably for Clackamas Fire District. She also wants to keep on working for Hoodland.
“If not, I definitely want to keep on working for Hoodland,” she said. “I’ve had a very positive experience here and built some really good connections while being here.”
The Hoodland Fire District Student Program is accepting applications. Deadline is April 2, 2027 for the 2027/2028 school year. For more information contact Student Program Leader Matt Nicholson at mattnicholson@hoodlandfire.gov or call (503) 622-3256.
