Firefighter Training Classes Begin in August at RCC

Randolph Community College has two firefighter training classes beginning in August. The Cadet Fire Academy, for ages 18 and above, will begin Monday, Aug. 10. A High School Fire Academy, for students between 16 and 18, will begin Monday, Aug. 31. Both classes will meet at RCC’s Emergency Service Training Center.

The Cadet Fire Academy is designed to give the student an idea of what it is like in a fire department recruit training school. Students will train Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Aug. 10 through Dec. 7. It includes an aggressive physical fitness program to allow the student to be able to handle the physical demands of the fire service. It covers N.C. Firefighter Certification, Technical Rescuer General and Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Certifications. A physical agility test will be required. A medical physical is required upon acceptance and prior to the start of the Academy. Enrollment is limited. The application can be found at www.randolph.edu/fire/register/.

The registration fee for the Firefighter Academy is approximately $180, unless you are fee exempt through affiliation with a fire department. If the student is not affiliated with a fire department, RCC will work with him/her to secure affiliation within the community. The student is responsible for uniforms, books, basic equipment, and the cost of the medical physical.

The High School Fire Academy will provide high school students, age 16 years and older, an introduction to the fire service. In this after-school program, students will be earning credits toward the completion of their North Carolina Firefighter certification. Classes meet from 3:30-6:30 p.m. three days a week and the occasional Saturday from 8-5, from Aug. 31 through Dec. 19. Classes will cover topics such as fire behavior, personal protective equipment, and emergency medical care.

If a student chooses to complete the entire program, they will be just a few classes short of becoming a North Carolina certified firefighter upon their 18th birthday. Participants are also encouraged to join their local volunteer fire department junior program.

For more information on either program, contact Matthew Britt, coordinator/instructor of fire and rescue services, at 336-628-4553 or mgbritt@randolph.edu.