By Susanne Reynolds

Bainbridge State College’s School of Health Sciences and Professional Studies is pleased to announce its newest Technical Certificates of Credit (TCC) in Firefighter I and Firefighter II, which are scheduled to begin spring 2015.

This is the first time these programs have been offered in the immediate area.

Firefighting classes will be held at the Seminole County Workforce Center in Donalsonville, State and National Certified Fire Instructor Dean King who has 35 years of firefighting experience in various roles. Dean is currently an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy and President of the Georgia State Firefighters Association. He also is the training captain for Donalsonville Fire Rescue Department.

Brandon Lane will also be instructing the courses in the program. He has nine years of firefighting experience and has been an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy for six years. Lane is a firefighter and instructor with Donalsonville Fire Rescue.

The Firefighter I and II TCC programs are conducted in cooperation with the Georgia Fire Academy and Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training to ensure graduates have the skills, knowledge and credentials to serve as firefighters in paid and volunteer fire departments.

According to King, the Firefighter I program is designed to teach prospective firefighters the basics of firefighting and fire elements.

He said, “Many people know that a fire is hot and it burns, but they don’t understand the science of it. It’s a living, breathing thing once it gets started. In the first course, students are also taught about the different equipment we use and even the water to put the fires out.”

The Firefighter II program builds upon skills and knowledge acquired in the Firefighter I certificate and parallels the Advanced Firefighter Curriculum being developed by the Georgia Fire Academy. Student must be a graduate of the Firefighter I Technical Certificate of Credit or NPQ Firefighter Certified at the National Professional Qualifications level.

The Firefighter II program is considered to be a hands-on course. Students will take realistic scenarios and apply the skills learned in Firefighting I.

“Fifty percent of this class is hands-on,” said King. “It’s about taking the basics and applying them to the field. This program goes way in depth. Some of the things we do in this course are having students learn how to rescue crash victims through our vehicle crash simulator, putting out structural fires and dealing with hazardous materials.”

With both programs, graduates will be tested and certified at the National Professional Qualifications level (NPQ). Upon completion, graduates will receive a Firefighter I Technical Certificate of Credit or a Firefighter II Technical Certificate of Credit.

The new Firefighter TCC program at BSC is designed to prepare people for a firefighting career and assist their community.

According to King, the program has a two-fold benefit.

“This program not only prepares those wanting to go into firefighting careers, but also helps a person in their community,” he said. “People don’t understand what it’s like being a public service worker. With this program, students will realize what it’s all about and the benefits to having firefighters.”

For more information on Firefighter I and II TCC programs, contact Dr. Steven Hougland at steven.hougland@bainbridge.edu or (229) 243-6407.