A fire science program is training JCPS students to become firefighters immediately after graduating high school, helping local departments with staffing. “At Fairdale, he gave me the basics of what you should expect. And now here, I’m just learning with these instructors and they’re teaching me how to become better,” said Brandon Smith.”I got the physical ability, I got most of what I needed to actually apply in high school. I did the interview in high school. Without that program, none of this would be a thing,” said Cameron Croney.Croney and Smith graduated from Fairdale High School’s fire science academy in May.Now, they’re about to graduate from the Anchorage-Middletown Fire Academy as full-time firefighters.”It’s a great help. They’re not anticipating so much. They’re not as nervous because they know how to operate some of the hand tools. They know how to use an ax and a pike pole and a plaster hook,” said interim chief Kevin Tyler.Before Croney and Smith were out working in the field, they were here at Fairdale High School doing drills.”So we’re running a scenario of a simulated structure fire, in our fire bay over there. I’ve set up a prop that’s got different search and rescue areas in it.. tunnels, walls, doors,” said Dan Shirley, who teaches the fire science academy at Fairdale. Shirley is a 15-year veteran of the Eastwood Fire Department as well.The academy has full sets of gear, tools, and even fire trucks that students train with regularly.”There’s no other way of getting this kind of training other than putting hands on actually physically doing it,” Shirley said.Croney and Smith say the lessons they learned at Fairdale gave them the leg up in their basic training.And interim Chief Kevin Tyler agrees.”It’s a great resource. It prepares them for all the process and the things that they have to get through,” he said. “It is really not a surprise to them.”
A fire science program is training JCPS students to become firefighters immediately after graduating high school, helping local departments with staffing.
“At Fairdale, he gave me the basics of what you should expect. And now here, I’m just learning with these instructors and they’re teaching me how to become better,” said Brandon Smith.
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“I got the physical ability, I got most of what I needed to actually apply in high school. I did the interview in high school. Without that program, none of this would be a thing,” said Cameron Croney.
Croney and Smith graduated from Fairdale High School’s fire science academy in May.
Now, they’re about to graduate from the Anchorage-Middletown Fire Academy as full-time firefighters.
“It’s a great help. They’re not anticipating so much. They’re not as nervous because they know how to operate some of the hand tools. They know how to use an ax and a pike pole and a plaster hook,” said interim chief Kevin Tyler.
Before Croney and Smith were out working in the field, they were here at Fairdale High School doing drills.
“So we’re running a scenario of a simulated structure fire, in our fire bay over there. I’ve set up a prop that’s got different search and rescue areas in it.. tunnels, walls, doors,” said Dan Shirley, who teaches the fire science academy at Fairdale.
Shirley is a 15-year veteran of the Eastwood Fire Department as well.
The academy has full sets of gear, tools, and even fire trucks that students train with regularly.
“There’s no other way of getting this kind of training other than putting hands on actually physically doing it,” Shirley said.
Croney and Smith say the lessons they learned at Fairdale gave them the leg up in their basic training.
And interim Chief Kevin Tyler agrees.
“It’s a great resource. It prepares them for all the process and the things that they have to get through,” he said. “It is really not a surprise to them.”
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