Freeport High School students can learn firefighter skills through new program

Freeport Area School District officials have partnered with the Allegheny County Fire Academy to offer a new program for students.

School board members unanimously voted Thursday night to offer a dual enrollment program for entry level fire training.

“I think it’s a great thing,” board president Dan Lucovich said. “The more we have for our students to do the better. Sometimes there’s students that want to be athletes. Some want to be part of the music department. Here’s another opportunity for them to support the community outside the school.”

This is the first year for the partnership.

Students would earn training certificates from the fire academy as well as credit for an elective through the district.

Superintendent Ian Magness said he sees the opportunity as a boon for the students as well as the volunteer fire departments. He isn’t sure how many of the 550 high school students would sign up.

“Fire services are struggling to get volunteers,” Magness said. “Any way we can encourage kids to get interested, serve the community in the fire service is a obviously a venerable pursuit for those kids.

“The Allegheny County Fire Academy is super reputable, and professionals go there all the time as full-time firefighters to get their training. What a wonderful opportunity for our kids to experience the same environment and the same trainers that train full-time firefighters.”

Allegheny County Chief Fire Marshal Matt Brown agreed.

“The Allegheny County Fire Academy is grateful for all of its partnerships that allow for the continued training and development of volunteer firefighters, particularly our youth,” Brown said. “For 50 years, the academy has provided the highest level of training to emergency service personnel, and we welcome the opportunity to train others to serve their community in this important way.”

There were about 300,000 volunteer firefighters statewide in the 1970s. Now, there are about 38,000, according to a report released in November 2018 by the state House of Representatives.

District documents indicate the dual enrollment program involves 14 classes starting Sept. 30 and ending May 3 with fire training graduation May 19 at the fire academy.

There are one or two class days each month. Students would be transported via bus and be at the academy from about 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m..