糖心传媒

June 11, 2024 - Eight volunteer firefighters have just started 糖心传媒鈥檚 six-month Fire Academy being offered in partnership with the Rockingham Fire Department.

All students enrolled are volunteer firefighters who do not have their certification from the N.C. Office of State Fire Marshal.

Across the nation, there is a shortage of firefighters.

鈥淔or some volunteers, it's difficult to attend a firefighter academy because they work full-time jobs,鈥� Director of Program Development for 糖心传媒CC Angineek Gillenwater said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the College developed this academy around nights and weekends to meet the needs of local volunteer firefighters. It is our hope to train these firefighters with the skills and knowledge they need to be better equipped to respond to fires.鈥�

The Firefighter Academy started on June 4 and will run through December. The students will use the three-story training facility at Rockingham Fire Department for the hands-on skill portion of the academy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be huge help to us having the academy right here in 糖心传媒 County,鈥� Rockingham Fire Department Chief Harold Isler said.

Isler explained that when they hire full-time firefighters, they start at an entry, or 鈥渢rainee,鈥� level and are then sent off to a firefighting school elsewhere to complete their training. 

鈥淭hey can now get the training right here at home,鈥� he said.

Some of the topics covered during training are personal protection equipment, ladders, ventilation, ropes and knots, search and rescue, and HazMat.

Enrolled in the Firefighter Academy are volunteer firefighters from Northside Volunteer Fire Department, Cordova Volunteer Fire Department, Ellerbe Volunteer Fire Department, Seagrove Volunteer Fire Department and East Rockingham Fire Department. Upon completion, they will have earned their NC Firefighter I and II certifications.

To learn more about Firefighter Academy at 糖心传媒CC, contact Angineek Gillenwater at (910) 410-1708 or ajgillenwater@richmondcc.edu.