(Seguin) — Have you ever wondered what being a firefighter is all about? Why is a fire engine sent with an ambulance on a medical call? How much does all that firefighter gear weigh?
Residents will have an opportunity to find out answers to these questions and many more during the Seguin Fire Department’s Citizens Fire Academy (CFA) this spring.
The CFA is a 10-week program designed to educate citizens of Seguin about their fire department.
The CFA gives Fire Department personnel the chance to welcome residents into the fire department family and introduce them to the various ways the department serves the community.
The Citizens Fire Academy is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who resides in Seguin. The program is held from 6 to 9 p.m. each Thursday from April 11, 2024 to June 13, 2024, plus one optional Saturday class that includes CPR training.
The Citizens Fire Academy is free of charge plus all equipment is provided for participants to use during the class. Classes are held at the city’s various fire stations and facilities.
Topics and activities featured during the Citizens Fire Academy include:
- History of the Seguin Fire Department
- Fire Investigations
- Engine Operations
- Fire Communications
- Fire Prevention
- Emergency Medical Services
- Hands-on experience using a fire extinguisher and a fire hose
- Using the Jaws of Life to free someone who is trapped in a vehicle
- Using a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
- Putting on Fire Gear and HAZ-MAT Suits
Seguin Fire Chief Dale Skinner says the Citizens Fire Academy program is a great way to establish a link between the Seguin Fire Department and the community.
“Many of the classes are hands-on, allowing participants to apply what they’re learning,” he continued. “Academy participants will also be given the opportunity to participate in a ride out program to experience things first-hand,” said Skinner.
Applications can be submitted online at https://www.seguintexas.gov/197/Citizens-Fire-Academy. They can also be picked up and dropped off at the Fire Administration Office, located inside the Municipal Court Building at 660 S. Hwy. 46 between 9 am and 4:30 pm. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2024.
All applicants will undergo a background check. Space is limited to the first 12 applicants. Once the course is filled, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for the next Citizens Fire Academy.
Please note that the Seguin Fire Department Citizens Fire Academy is not a certification academy and neither qualifies nor guarantees anyone a job with the Seguin Fire Department. It is an information-only program.