Henley High Students Convert Bus Into Wildfire Command Center

Inside a former school bus, engineering, construction, and electrical students at Henley High School are transforming bare metal and student-created blueprints into a fully functional mobile wildland fire command center for the Oregon Department of Forestry, gaining real-world experience while contributing directly to wildfire response efforts in their own communities.

The two-year project began in December 2024, when 15 students in Kristi Lebkowsky’s Principles of Engineering class measured the bus and developed initial design concepts to convert it into a mobile workspace. Students worked in teams to balance safety, efficiency, and real-world constraints, knowing their designs would ultimately be used by firefighters in the field.

Five student teams presented their proposals to wildland fire supervisors for ODF Klamath Unit. In April 2025, the design created by engineering students Dylan Orr and Theron Tyler, along with classmate Ethan Bissell, was selected as the winning concept.

Once the design was approved, the project moved from paper to practice.

Twenty construction students removed the existing flooring and sets. Construction students Derrick Cox, Lincoln Schultz, Adanely Meza, Brayden Hadwick, Carlos Alvarez, and David Bond installed new subflooring, framed seating platforms, repurposed work tables, and are creating custom cabinetry and tables. Donavan Chandler, the electrical engineering student leader, along with David, Carlos and Brayden began running electrical conduits throughout the bus.

The work required constant collaboration, problem-solving, and redesign as students encountered challenges that don’t appear on blueprints. Dylan and Theron are working closely with the construction/electrical students to find troubleshoot solutions.

“For electricity right now, we’re running the conduit along the sides of the bus and under the floor,” student David Bond explained. “You have to go through tight spaces. The weird angles make it challenging, but that’s how you learn.”

Students said the hands-on experience pushed them beyond typical classroom learning.

“It’s very rewarding to see stuff get done and know that we’re going to end up helping people,” said construction student Derrick Cox. “I like working with my hands. This shows we can actually accomplish something that matters.”

Others emphasized the project’s direct connection to wildfire response — something many students have witnessed firsthand growing up in southern Oregon.

“Being able to help counteract some of the forest fires is really rewarding,” Bond said. “It feels good to know we’re making a difference to the destruction we see every summer.”

The bus is being built as a mobile command center, equipped with workstations, seating, storage, and electrical systems to support firefighters during extended wildfire operations. While the finished interior will include platforms, tables, and cabinetry, students say the most valuable outcome is the experience itself.

“Mistakes happen, and you have to work together to fix them,” said electrical student Carlos Alvarez. “That’s how it works in the real world.”

The project is guided by industry professionals, including licensed electrician mentor James Chandler, and Jeff Wearne, carpentry mentor from Klamath Community College. Teachers say working alongside professionals gives students a rare opportunity to see how classroom learning applies directly to community needs.

“Designs that look great on paper don’t always work in real life,” said Lebkowsky, the Henley engineering teacher who is leading students on the project. “This experience gives students a huge advantage — they learn how to adapt, communicate, and follow a project from start to finish.”

Several students said the project has already influenced their future plans, sparking interest in careers in engineering, construction, and the electrical trades.

“I want to be an electrician,” said Brayden Hadwick. “This project showed me what that actually looks like.”

Henley art students are in the process of designing and painting a mural for the bus interior and creating separate exterior designs which will be installed after the construction phase is complete.

The project has also been made possible through generous community support. Students and staff emphasized their appreciation for current donors Home Depot and Platt Electric, whose contributions of materials and supplies have helped move the project forward. The initial funding for this project came through the Southern Oregon STEM Hub’s Team Oregon Build Project.

The team hopes to complete the mobile command center by spring, with final work including cabinetry, flooring, and finishing touches. Once complete, the bus will be turned over to ODF for use during wildfire season.

Students say knowing their work could support firefighters — and potentially save lives — makes every challenge worthwhile.

“This bus has the potential to be used for years,” Alvarez said. “That makes it different from anything else we’ve built.”
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