Registration Opens for 2016 Citizens Fire Academy

The Valdosta Fire Department (VFD) is fighting fire with knowledge through its 3rd annual nine-week Citizens Fire Academy designed to educate citizens and the business community about the services provided by the VFD, increase fire and life-safety awareness, and establish a community partnership.

The academy is scheduled on nine consecutive Tuesday nights, from 6 to 9 p.m., beginning on August 30, 2016 and concluding on Oct. 25, 2016. Citizens must be at least 18 years of age and complete an application, background check and release of liability form. Although the program is free, Valdosta Fire Chief Freddie Broome will ask all participants for their commitments to attend all nine weeks.

"The only thing this program will cost citizens is their time," said Fire Chief Broome. "Much effort has been made to offer a quality program that will benefit our citizens. I can assure all participants that it will be time well spent, getting an inside look into the fire and life-safety services of this department."

Participants will learn all aspects of the department's operations, have an opportunity to participate in the VFD's Ride along Program, and will also receive valuable life safety CPR certification training. On the last Tuesday of the program, graduates will participate in a formal graduation ceremony at the training center. Program days are scheduled as follows:

Week 1: Fire Department Overview
Week 2: Communication
Week 3: CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team)
Week 4: Fire Prevention
Week 5: CPR/First Aid
Week 6: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)/Search and Rescue
Week 7: Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) and Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat)
Week 8: Live Burn/Firefighter Rehab
Week 9: Final Review and Graduation

The third class is limited to 25 participants, and the deadline to apply is Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. Download VFD Citizens Fire Academy application or complete the online application form.

The Citizens Fire Academy is one of three volunteer programs in the City of Valdosta available to citizens—the other two are the Citizens Police Academy and the Government 101 Citizens Orientation Program—designed to give citizens valuable knowledge of resources through a behind-the-scenes view inside local government services.

For more information about the Citizens Fire Academy, call the VFD at 229-333-1835 or visit http://www.valdostacity.com/citizens-fire-academy.