SOU student applies classroom experience to work on LA wildfires

(Ashland, Ore.) — Bryan Cohee was juggling his usual responsibilities back in January – as a husband, father, battalion chief with Jackson County Fire District 3 and undergraduate student in Southern Oregon University’s Innovation and Leadership Program. A phone call resulted in yet another role, and both opportunities and challenges for Cohee: it was an offer to serve as co-leader for a deployment of southern Oregon firefighters to help battle the historic Los Angeles wildfires.

Participation was voluntary, but the nature of the assignment required a quick decision.

“With three kids at home and a wife who has her own career and is also a student, there is never an entirely ‘convenient’ time,” Cohee said.