A new course aims to address the shortage of firefighters in Huntington County, Indiana.
Starting in the fall, the Huntington County Community Schools Corporation Learning Center will introduce a ‘Fire and Rescue’ course. This course will provide hands-on training for students to become certified firefighters.
Tiffaney Drummond, the Director of Career and Technical Education at the Learning Center, highlighted the need for more firefighters in the local community. The hope is that the school district can help bridge this gap by training future firefighters.
The half-day class will be available to juniors and seniors. Jason Meier, a Lieutenant at the city of Huntington Fire Department and a volunteer firefighter with Mt Etna, will teach the course. Meier is enthusiastic about sparking students’ interest in public safety and addressing recruitment challenges in the community.
The course will blend classroom instruction with practical skills training to simulate an academy experience. Additionally, various departments across Huntington County have pledged to share their expertise and equipment with the class.
While the exact size of the class is yet to be determined as students finalize their fall semester schedules, there has been significant interest from prospective students.