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Fifteen firefighters-in-training graduated from the ��ɫֱ��Regional Fire Academy ready to step into a job with a local fire department. These fifteen TCC students are the first class to complete a challenging concentrated semester of coursework which combines classroom learning, hands-on skills training, and physical fitness.

The 14 men and one woman are part of a blended program where they earn college credit and complete firefighter training at the same time. The inaugural class is a result of a partnership with the ��ɫֱ��Fire Department and ��ɫֱ��Community College.

“Our graduates will be walking right into jobs with area fire departments. We know that several of our students from the inaugural class will be employed as firefighters across the ��ɫֱ��area by January,” said Regional Fire Academy Director, Chief Greta Hurt of ��ɫֱ��Fire Department. “The ��ɫֱ��Regional Fire Academy is an innovative model used to produce skilled and certified firefighters.”

The FFITs started the ��ɫֱ��Regional Fire Academy in August and attended classes Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The training is done at the ��ɫֱ��Fire Safety Training Center at TCC Northeast Campus, operated through a partnership between TCC, TFD and the City of Tulsa.

“TCC is committed to produce workforce ready graduates and the ��ɫֱ��Fire Safety Training Center, a state-of-the-art fire training facility, is just one way we have evolved our academic program,” said TCC President & CEO Leigh B. Goodson, Ph.D. “The Fire and Emergency Medical Services program is part of TCC’s culture, dating back to 1970 when we opened, as one of the original degree programs.”

The partnership allows students to be eligible for federal student loans since it provides college credit as it prepares the student to be a firefighter. Students in the ��ɫֱ��Regional Fire Academy earn a 16-credit hour Fire and Emergency Medical Services Certificate, Advanced Firefighter option from TCC. Students can then apply those college credit hours to a Fire & Emergency Medical Services Associate of Applied Science degree. After successfully completing the academy, students will meet all of the minimum certification requirements needed to be employed as a firefighter in the State of Oklahoma and many other states.

The ��ɫֱ��Regional Fire Academy is already recruiting for the fall 2019 class. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and will be responsible for the cost of tuition and fees. Selected students must submit the Fire Academy Application, a doctor’s signed physical or release, copy of Oklahoma driver license and proof of insurance by June 1 for consideration. For more information please call Chief Greta Hurt at 918-596-1989.