Oregon Firefighter Trains Teams for Mountain Rescues

When cars plunge off Highway 26's Map Curve near Government Camp, Oregon, every second counts and every skill matters. Evan Jarvis knows this better than anyone after that unforgettable July 2023 night when his rope rescue team saved two lives.

The crash sent a vehicle down a steep embankment at the curve locals call "Dead Man's Curve." Jarvis and teams from Hoodland and Clackamas County worked all night, carefully extracting the injured victims from the wreckage and hauling them up using technical rope rescue techniques. Life Flight helicopters rushed both patients to a Portland hospital.

"The crew performed a really technical operation, extrication from the vehicle and a rope rescue to get them to the top," Jarvis said. It was one of the most challenging calls of his career, and it's exactly why his job as Hoodland Fire District's training officer matters so much.

At 36, Jarvis runs the district's special rescue programs, including rope rescue, water rescue, and snow ATV rescue teams. His job is making sure every firefighter has the skills and equipment to handle whatever the mountain throws at them. He started as a volunteer in 2007 and became a full-time lieutenant paramedic in 2014.

Fire service runs deep in the Jarvis family. His father has volunteered with Hoodland since the 1980s, and Evan grew up spending time at the station. "What drove me to it was the camaraderie," he said. "We have fun while at work and get to help people at the same time."

Why This Inspires

Jarvis embodies what makes emergency services work: preparation meets passion. Working 48-hour shifts that bring everything from medical calls to trail rescues, he never knows what the next call will bring. That variety keeps him sharp and ready.

"I really enjoy getting to help people, see how it makes a difference in people's lives," he said. "That's really rewarding." When he's not working his full-time job, he volunteers with Hood River County search and rescue, extending his impact even further.

The Mountain Times named him Fire Focus Firefighter of the Month, recognizing not just his rescue work but his dedication to training the next generation. He and his wife live in Zigzag with their Great Pyrenees, and he still loves riding ATVs through the mountain terrain he protects every day.

Hoodland Fire District is now seeking volunteers for its firefighting academy training program, where people like Jarvis will pass on the life-saving skills that make rescues like Map Curve possible.