{"id":25,"date":"2024-04-17T22:42:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T22:42:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losmedanos.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-summer-2024-volume-1-issue-1\/lmc-brings-dream-job-to-reality-for-aspiring-firefighters\/"},"modified":"2024-06-05T01:47:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T01:47:42","slug":"lmc-brings-dream-job-to-reality-for-aspiring-firefighters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losmedanos.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-summer-2024-volume-1-issue-1\/lmc-brings-dream-job-to-reality-for-aspiring-firefighters\/","title":{"rendered":"LMC brings dream job to reality for aspiring firefighters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recruits ignite their careers with hands-on training<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Riley Egan had prepared for weeks for what his Fire Academy instructors called the \u201clive burn\u201d at the Contra Costa County Fire Training Center. He checked his gear and stood at the ready. Once the instructor ignited the gasoline prop pan, Egan swiftly moved in and attacked the blaze, dousing it with a burst from his fire extinguisher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Egan is one of about 30 recruits training this spring in Los Medanos College Fire Academy, the hands-on course where students put into practice the principles they learned in the pre-requisite classes \u2013 Fire 101 and 102, and the Fire 106 physical <\/span>
\nagility test.<\/span><\/p>\n

Egan, who had been working in retail since 2017, at age 29 had a revelation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a sit-down with a co-worker and suddenly thought, \u2018why am I limiting myself?\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cI grew up in the Boy Scouts and always thought being a firefighter was a great job. So, I looked around, and found LMC was the closest place I could train. I took the Fire 101 class and was immediately hooked. It\u2019s not just the training, but now I got to know these guys. There\u2019s a real camaraderie. Any one of them would follow me into a burning building and I\u2019d trust them with my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image

Dominic Reyes, Fire Academy coordinator<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

LMC Fire Academy coordinator Dominic Reyes said students who train at LMC have numerous advantages for landing a job when they graduate. Much of their training takes place at the Contra Costa County training center in Concord, which includes a five-story drill tower, five fire engines, a wildland engine, and ample space for live fire training. It is the same center professional firefighters across the county use to train.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest advantage, though, is learning from our experienced cadre (instructional staff),\u201d said Reyes, who graduated the LMC academy in 2010. \u201cThey all work in professional fire departments \u2013 from Berkeley Fire, San Francisco Fire, Alameda Fire, and Contra Costa County. The students we graduate do make it to that end goal. Then we see it go full circle and they come back to teach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image

Dave Haynes, Fire Academy instructor<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Dave Haynes, Jr., is among the working firefighter-instructors. Haynes, an LMC alumnus \u201917, credits the program for preparing him to succeed in his job with Contra Costa County Fire. He graduated from El Cerrito High School, attended Diablo Valley College initially exploring the field of criminal justice, turned to Contra Costa College for EMT training and continued his exploration at LMC, where it all came together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving the foundational skills and knowledge from the LMC college academy prior to stepping into the paid fire department helped me more than anything,\u201d Haynes said. \u201cI was already familiar with their way of doing things, with the equipment they use \u2013 I was ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lon Goetsch, assistant fire chief with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, said the partnership with LMC serves the community well, providing a well-trained pool of recruits at a time many local fire departments are seeking to fill vacant positions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince COVID, the number of qualified, available recruits has been going down,\u201d Goetsch said. \u201cThere\u2019s incredible demand for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. These are exciting jobs with wages and benefits that are very attractive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ignite your career today. Visit www.losmedanos.edu\/fire<\/a> or contact Mike Grillo, mgrillo@losmedanos.edu<\/a>, (925)-473-7750.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fire Technology
\n<\/span>Certificate of achievement: Requires fire technology courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.<\/span>
\nAssociate in Science Degree: Requires 26 units of fire technology courses plus college\u00a0associate degree requirements, including EMT training.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recruits ignite their careers with hands-on training Riley Egan had prepared for weeks for what his Fire Academy instructors called the \u201clive burn\u201d at the Contra Costa County Fire Training Center. He checked his gear and stood at the ready. 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