Nine graduate from BCCC's second fire academy

These graduates are truly tested by fire. The second cohort of students graduated from Beaufort County Community College’s fire academy on May 26. The academy, trained by a wide variety of first responders from the area, finished its second run as the nine students were honored. The cohort included Douglas Blackman and Billy Warren of Sidney; Gabrielle Cromwell and James Scheffler of Pantego; James Kidwell of Clarks Neck; Lorenzo Palin of Roper; Scott Perry of Jamesville; Jarrett Sosebee of Chocowinity; and Jenny Williams of Old Ford.

Students earned certifications in firefighting, HazMat responder, emergency vehicle driving, technical rescuer and vehicle rescue. This was the first year that rapid intervention training was included, where students learn to rescue trapped firefighters. The number of training hours also expanded by 28 to 624. All of the students currently serve as volunteer firefighters in the respective communities.

“This is a more diverse group of trainees than we had in our last cohort,” said Johnny Williams, director of fire programs at BCCC. “We were also able to graduate nine out of the ten students who started. This class really stuck with it.”

The class selected James Scheffler as its class leader. Lorenzo Palin was selected as the Most Outstanding Firefighter Trainee.

The program gives volunteer firefighters the opportunity to achieve an academy-style training in this region. Many firefighters have had to travel to Wilson to attend a fire academy in the past. The only full-time fire department in the BCCC service area is the Washington Fire, Rescue and EMS Department. The rest of the firefighters in the service area are volunteers. Some graduates will continue in their role as volunteers, but with significantly more training. About half of the graduates plan to seek employment as professional emergency personnel.

Since the program began, BCCC has constructed a state-of-the-art fire training facility where students practice working in dark and confined spaces, rappelling and working with live fire. The NC Connect Bond will help fund additional infrastructure to grow the program.

Local fire departments are so enthusiastic about the training facilities at BCCC that they donate foam and bring their vehicles out during live burns. Their departments and the new graduates are the beneficiaries of the new facilities and the new academy.

The next fire academy starts August 15. Orientation is on August 1. For more information about the fire academy, contact Johnny Williams at 252-940-6363 or [email protected].