COD to Open Basic Firefighter Training Academy

College of the Desert (COD) has received approval from the California State Fire Marshall’s Office to begin a fully accredited Basic Firefighter Academy beginning August 28, 2012, at the new Roy Wilson Fire Training Center in Thousand Palms.

The COD Basic Firefighter Academy is designed for working students with evening classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and day time classes on Saturdays throughout the Fall and Spring Semesters. The program is constructed to provide students with a basic knowledge of fire service operations and to provide entry-level skills required by most fire departments. College units earned can be applied to an Associate’s degree. Upon successful completion of the academy, students will be eligible to receive their State of California Firefighter I Certificate.

Prerequisites to the academy include:

• Minimum age of 18 to apply
• Possession of a current California EMT certification
• Possession of a transcript of FIT 1 (Fire Protection Organization) or college level equivalent. No Exceptions
• Current Physical Abilities Test Certificate (Biddle or CPAT completed within 9 months prior to the first day of the academy) 

Applications are available on the COD website by clicking Academic Programs, Fire Technology, State Fire Marshall Training (Basic Firefighter Academy). 

According to Chris Madigan, Director of COD’s Public Safety Academy, the State Fire Marshall’s accreditation is a major milestone in the Coachella Valley’s ability to fully train its very own ready-for-hire firefighters. Up until this point local students interested in attending an accredited Basic Fire Academy had to drive as far as Riverside and beyond to attend classes. Further, local hiring agencies often found it necessary to fill Firefighter vacancies from out of the area, with the result too often being a short-term employee and constant turnover.

Director Madigan said this program will not only address the high rate of east county population growth and attendant increasing demand for services, but will also serve to strengthen the value of existing  EMT and Basic Peace Officer Training programs currently offered at COD.