So you think your office had a bad day? Let me tell you what kind of day the College Station Fire Department had the other day. First, we had a car crash that sent three people to the emergency room. Then, there was a house fire where five people lost everything, followed by a baby getting locked in a car. And all this happened before lunch.
I decided to pursue a career with the College Station Fire Department after two personal experiences with emergency services in the late 1990s. In 1998, my sister survived a choking incident, and I lost my mother to a heart attack the following year. Very early in my fire department career, I attended the Texas A&M Fire School and was amazed, scared and forever determined that area residents needed to better understand exactly what is required of our firefighters.
CSFD’s firefighters responded to more than 6,800 emergency calls last year, but they would rather meet residents in the course of a normal day, not in an emergency. Enrolling in Citizens Fire Academy is an outstanding way for you to get to know these local heroes while gaining valuable insight into what they do every day.
Why take Citizens Fire Academy?
- CFA is a great way to learn about the kind of emergencies the fire department responds to.
- CFA provides extinguisher, CPR and first aid training.
- CFA is for folks who want to better understand how a city government works to protect them.
- CFA is for folks who want to get to know their firefighters and fellow community members.
- CFA is great for team building and doing something active with your friends or family.
- CFA is the only way you can learn how to cut up a car.
- CFA is the only way for you to fulfill your childhood dream of riding on a fire engine.
- CFA provides a chance to actually take part in firefighting activities, or you can just watch. There is no pressure to participate, although you will be among some of the safest people in the world.
The deadline to enroll is Feb. 10, with the 11-week course starting Feb. 20. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Classes will be conducted on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at city fire stations and the Brayton Fire Training Field. A special Saturday session will feature a live fire exercise.
The course will cover a variety of engaging topics, including Emergency Medical Services, the Incident Command System, a tour of the 9-1-1 Dispatch Office, ride outs on fire engines and ambulances, vehicle extrication, search and rescue, hazardous materials and disaster procedures.
Online applications are accepted at cstx.gov/cfa. For additional information, call me at 979.764.3712. We hope to see you when classes start in February!
