San Pasqual Reservation Fire Academy Accreditation Allows Recruits to Apply for Firefighting Jobs Across the United States

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Since its start in 2006, the San Pasqual Reservation Fire Department Firefighter 1 Academy has seen seven classes graduate. Class number seven was special to them because these are the first graduates that can be firefighters anywhere in the United States, most of Canada and parts of Europe. FDNNTV's Barbara Brooks was on hand for the graduation.

"Right now we're the only Native American program in the state of California that has an accredited academy. And we're the only academy in the state of California that has an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress certification. No other academy in the state has that or can offer that certificate," said Battalion Chief Brian Beresford, Academy Coordinator.

The academy is a condensed 12 week format so students work from 12 to 14 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week. Students receive a total of 17 certifications, including the CAL FIRE 67-hour certification, the State Fire Marshal certification, and the IFSAC certification.

"We cover all aspects of firefighting from structure to wildland to auto extrication to vehicle fire. Everything that a normal firefighter would probably do during the duty of his day. Once they leave our academy, with the exception of the medical qualification, they can go to any fire department, anywhere, and walk in from day-one and perform as a firefighter," Beresford said.

The academy hopes to expand to include a truck academy in the near future with the acquisition of their 2009 Smeal 110 foot Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) Truck.

All 32 graduates are starting to apply to many different departments. Some want to stay in the area and some want to go elsewhere.

"I'm on the waiting list for Chicago so if they ever call me I'll have this now. That was one of the biggest things for me is I didn't know if I was going to stay out here or not. So getting my IFSAC certificate was very important," said graduate Daniel Rumph.

The academy is run by the San Pasqual Mission Indians who are members of the Kumeyaay people, and Native American elements were included in the graduation ceremony. There was a blessing and tribal bird singers who welcomed and blessed the crowd.

So far, the placement record of the academy has been good. But in these economic times, the graduates are not expecting things to be easy for them.

"We might not all find jobs in the fire service, like Chief said, maybe a quarter of us will make it. That's to be lifers but there's nothing wrong with that. But, whatever you do with your life I want you to take one thing out of the academy and that's the dedication and the perseverance it took you to get through," said graduate Ryan Alter.

These graduates have what it takes to become a firefighter. For information on the next Firefighter 1 Academy scheduled to start on August 31st visit www.sprfd.org/academy.html.