Frisco Citizen's Fire Academy

GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE FRISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT; NEXT CITIZEN’S FIRE ACADEMY BEGINS MARCH 25

(March 3, 2010) The Frisco Fire Department offers a great opportunity to learn about an essential part of the city’s public safety operations. The next Citizen’s Fire Academy (CFA) begins March 25 and demonstrates how these first responders’ jobs go way beyond putting out fires. Firefighters also respond to medical emergencies, contain HAZMAT situations and manage the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), to name a few of the tasks they tackle on any given day.

CFA is a free program that meets Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
CFA Class No. 27 will meet for nine weeks from March 25 through May 20.
The program is open to anyone living or working within Frisco’s city limits.

Students learn from Frisco Firefighters. “We have our experts teach CFA classes,” said Frisco Fire Chief Mack Borchardt. “Fire Department staff craft the instruction to be as hands-on as students want to take the classes.”

The “Burn House” facility is where all Frisco firefighters train. CFA participants suit up in the same protective gear and walk through the same fiery building that the firefighters do. Students also experience the physical endurance needed to do the job, like climbing an aerial ladder and lugging a 50-pound hose.

Participants learn what emergency response really means. They have an opportunity to ride along on real emergency calls and to see fire and EMT personnel in action. Class members use the actual rescue tools emergency responders used to cut apart a vehicle.

“We really want Citizen’s Fire Academy to be a fun experience, not an intimidating one,” said Chief Borchardt. “That’s why CFA participants can choose to opt out of any activities they are not comfortable trying.”

CFA graduates become a part of the Citizen’s Fire Academy Alumni (CFAA).
Members of the CFAA pass on their training by engaging friends and family about safety issues, such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in the home. Many CFA graduates continue their involvement with the fire department by becoming volunteers for fire programs.

Citizen’s Fire Academy application forms are available at all Frisco fire stations and online. Go to FriscoFire.com to download an application to mail or fax back. The Frisco Fire Department offers the CFA program twice a year. Call Frisco Fire Administration for more information at (972) 292-6300.