Community Colleges of Colorado move toward statewide fire college
The Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System (CCCOES) has taken its first step toward developing a state fire college with the introduction of the Fire Academy on Wheels. The unit will travel throughout the state providing state-of-the-art haz-mat response, arson investigation, and other essential firefighting techniques and technologies to rural firefighters.
The Fire Academy on Wheels offers, through state grants, free or inexpensive training opportunities. Red Rocks Community College`s Fire Science Technology is coordinating with other community colleges in the development of the Academy. Also, Arapahoe Community College`s South Metro Fire Academy will partner with the Parker (CO) Fire Department in sharing resources and training materials.
“As other regional partnerships are more fully developed, the goal is to shift firefighter education and training into a state training institute within Colorado`s Community College System,” explains Dr. Peg Rooney, CCCOES statewide program manager for fire science technology.
