When the call of a structure fire sounded off, the firefighter cadets climbed down from two ladder trucks, pulled hoses and began assessing the burning building as brownish smoke billowed into the air.
The Killeen ISD high school firefighter cadets labored at the academy training site behind the Killeen Fire Department central station as part of a series of live burns.
One team cracked open a door and gained entrance through the front. A second team powered up a saw and cut through burglar bars on the side of the structure.
Cadets gained entrance through a window and searched the smokey interior rooms, eventually pulling out mannequin victims, well-singed from many past rescues.
At the end of each session, the 10 high school cadets gathered with the half-dozen or so trainers and assessed their efforts suggesting ways to improve technique and communication.
KISD firefighter cadet training photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720330441570
Killeen ISD maintains a longtime partnership with the Killeen Fire Department and its firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician academy. High school students have the chance to train for two years to qualify to take the state firefighter and EMT tests.
This year there are 14 cadets in the first year and 10 in the second year of the program.
This year’s second-year cadets just completed about a month’s worth of live fire exercises leading into the Thanksgiving break.
David Barrantes, a senior cadet, explained the challenge of the live fire training.
“The last two weeks, we’ve been at the burn building. It’s very hands-on a lot more intense compared to the props. I think it’s really improving everyone’s skill and health and ability to do everything.”
Cadets trained first at the Conder Park training site on propane-fueled props like a dumpster and a car, then moved over to the more challenging interior structure fire set.
“It’s scary when you first start,” said Barrantes of the building. “Once you do it, you gain composure and you start getting into the habit of it. You realize, ‘I’ve got this, let’s do this,’ we are getting into the teamwork of it. It’s incredible.”
The senior cadet said he expected the two-year program would be mainly a physical challenge but said it has been a lot of academic work and collaborative problem solving.
“You actually study more than you do in other classes. You combine your brains and brawn in the fire and that is really the key,” he said.
“It’s the best experience,” said Kasi Yonkey, also a senior cadet. “We’ve done live fire props and the last two weeks the burn building. We get hands-on on everything. We get to use all the tools. It’s been great.”
“I like the excitement and being able to save someone. I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter. When I found out Killeen has a fire academy, I was really excited. It’s hard at time, but as long as you don’t give up and keep working, that’s all they ask of you.”
Killeen Fire Capt. Bradley Jansen, the training academy leader, praised the students’ diligence and commitment.
“It is an awesome opportunity to get real-life training and education that most people get after high school. To graduate high school with a firefighter certification and EMT certification, it is really cool.”
“They work hard and get the exact training adults do. This is a full Texas state certification, and they do a fantastic job. It’s great to see their heart and soul poured into it.”
Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski said the department is benefiting directly from the high school academy. Currently, 12 Killeen firefighters are alumni of the KISD academy.
“This is highly valuable. I couldn’t be more proud of this program. They are taking on an adult program at a young age. It is very much needed,” the chief said.
“We love to take our homegrown Killeen students and build them into leaders in the fire department.”
Information about the firefighter and EMT academy and other KISD CTE programs is available here:
https://www.killeenisd.org/page/career-and-technical-education-cte