JAMES CITY COUNTY — For six weeks, James City County residents got a firsthand look at what it takes to be a firefighter through the county’s Citizens Fire Academy, an immersive program designed to bring the community closer to its fire and rescue crews.
“We wanted this program to be a way for citizens to see behind the scenes,” a department representative said. “Oftentimes, there are questions about why the fire department operates the way it does, and this program helps not only share information but also allows participants to engage with us. Through the six-week program, students learn from the same firefighters who will respond when they call 911.”
Each week of the Citizens Fire Academy highlighted a different aspect of fire service, giving participants hands-on experience in emergency response. The program began with life-saving training, including Stop the Bleed and Hands-Only CPR, followed by a demonstration of how those skills apply in real cardiac arrest scenarios. Participants observed a live structure fire response, tried on firefighting gear, practiced using fire hoses and even experienced a ride 100 feet up in a ladder truck.
In later sessions, they learned about fire investigations and prevention from fire marshals, practiced extinguishing live fires, and assisted in simulated vehicle extrications during a technical rescue demonstration. The academy concluded with a Marine Incident Response day, where participants explored the department’s dive and rescue equipment and ended the program with a boat ride on the department’s newest boat.
While the academy offered plenty of excitement, committing to the program came with its own challenges.
“The biggest challenge is always devoting time away from family to come learn about this,” officials said. “As firefighters, we are away from our families for twenty-four hours at a time, so we appreciated the citizens taking time away from their families and loved ones to come learn about the fire department.”
In addition to experiencing what firefighters face daily, participants left with valuable emergency skills, including life-saving skills such as Stop the Bleed, Hands-Only CPR and fire extinguisher use, according to the department. When those skills are utilized in an emergency, they can significantly help mitigate the situation or improve a patient’s chance of survival, it adds.
The department also hopes the program deepens citizens’ understanding of their local fire service.
“We want citizens to understand the capabilities of the fire department and the services we provide,” officials said. “Oftentimes, people may not realize our responsibilities, the extensive training we complete, or the top-of-the-line equipment we use.”
The academy also serves as an opportunity to strengthen community ties, as it gives the department the opportunity to interact with citizens, whose first experience with the fire department is usually when they call for service. The academy allows the department to establish relationships early and help citizens be prepared for emergencies.
All instruction came directly from within the department. All instructors were members of the fire department, and with each night focused on different specialties, members who specialized in those areas came out to teach.
For students, several moments stood out, whether that be using extrication tools, riding the ladder truck, using a fire hose or learning life-saving skills. One of the top favorites was getting to go on the fire department’s boat, the department said, noting everyone appreciated the level of involvement they got to have.
The program also left a lasting impact on participants, some of whom took their lessons home to share with their families. Officials said after receiving the Stop the Bleed training, some were inspired to purchase first aid kits for their vehicles. Others shared that after receiving the Hands-Only CPR training, they downloaded the PulsePoint app to their phones so they could help provide care to patients in cardiac arrest before EMS providers arrived.
As for what’s next, the department plans to continue building on the academy’s success and make it an annual event.
Upon graduation from the program, participants received a department challenge coin, a certificate and a miniature toy firetruck.
The next academy will take place in the spring. More information can found on the James City County website.
