After taking a year off from teaching Wildland firefighting classes, Stayton High School science teacher Mrs. Laurie LaMarche asked Stayton Fire District to once again partner with her in providing the class. The class is held in February and March and provides the students with approximately 50 hours of classroom and hands-on training. Firefighters Scott Mullen, Barbara Nelson, and Brad McKenzie spent three days at the school teaching students about hand tools, digging fire line, Personal Protective Equipment, and fire shelters.

On the last day, the firefighters conduct a live fire training exercise with the students allowing them first-hand experience in a controlled environment. Some of the students from the class will go to Fire Camp at Camp Cascade where they will compete with other schools from across the state in applying the skills they have developed during the class.

Mrs. LaMarche stated that Stayton High School is always one of the top schools in the competition due in large part to the quality of training the students receive because of the partnership between the School and the Fire District. The class is a win-win situation for the students and the firefighters; it gives the firefighters an opportunity to use and sharpen their skills while sharing those same skills with students who have an interest in Wildland firefighting and furthering their education.