Clatsop Community College (CCC) is pleased to announce that Wade Mathews will join the College as its full-time Fire Science and Maritime Fire Science Instructor, effective January 2, 2026. Mathews brings 35 years of experience in fire and emergency service and is retiring from the Astoria Fire Department on December 30th after a distinguished 25-year career, most recently serving as a Lieutenant.
Mathews is no stranger to CCC. He is not only an alum of the College but was a student of the first graduating class of the Fire Science program in 1998. Before his long tenure with Astoria Fire, he worked for Medix and served as a volunteer firefighter for John Day, Lewis & Clark, and Warrenton areas giving him broad experience in both paid and volunteer fire service.
Tina Kotson, Associate Vice President of Nursing, Allied Health and Public Safety shared her excitement of Mathews joining the CCC faculty. “As an alum of CCC myself, I am thrilled that we have more alumni joining us who have chosen to give back and use their skills to teach the next generation of students in our community.”
Whether volunteer or career firefighter, Mathews emphasizes that the training demands are the same. “You need to be prepared,” he said. “Firefighting is a very physical job. I’m not getting any younger, and I’ve been thinking lately about what I want my next career to be after retiring from the fire department. When this instructor job came up, I thought, this may be my perfect retirement gig.”
Mathews said he is excited to work with CCC students and pass on what he has learned over a lifetime of service. “I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes as well as my successes,” he said. “I’m looking forward to sharing that with the next generation of firefighters.”
Mathews was encouraged to apply by Kurt Donaldson, CCC’s part-time Fire Science instructor and Fire Chief of Knappa Fire District. Donaldson previously served as CCC’s full-time Fire Science instructor and continues to support the growth and evolution of the program. “We are excited to have Wade on board. He will bring a unique perspective to our program,” stated Donaldson.
For Mathews, the importance of a strong Fire Science program in Clatsop County is clear. “All firefighters need to go through live fire training each year and CCC has a great facility for it. Having a program like this in our community ensures we keep knowledgeable professionals in the area with the skills needed to serve.”
The CCC burn facility located at the College’s MERTS campus is a controlled environment that simulates smoke and fire conditions for a three-story training vessel or building that can be configured to create different layouts and scenarios. CCC’s facility is one of only a handful in the country that offers both marine and structural fire simulation, giving firefighters and partner agencies in the region the opportunity to drill scenarios so they are ready. Through private donors and the Roundhouse Grant, the College has been able to acquire and utilize modern training equipment giving students hands-on experience that fire departments across the nation use.
The Mathews family has deep roots in Astoria and in CCC. Wade is part of a four-generation Astoria family, and three generations have attended Clatsop Community College—his father Loran first attended in 1961, then Wade and his sister, and then most recently his children, including his son Nolan who now currently serves with the Astoria Fire Department. Mathews says he will miss working alongside his son in the fire station but is excited to continue serving the community in a new role.
“I know it’s the old standard answer, but it’s true—I do this to help people and help my community,” Mathews said. “I like helping out where I grew up. I was born and raised here. It’s a rewarding career.”
His advice to current and future firefighters is simple: “Never stop learning. Keep going to classes and conferences. I’m still learning all the time.”
