New firefighting option for area high schools

July 15, 2024

FOX VALLEY – Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) received a more than $15,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) that will fund its Firefighting Principles course for high school students interested in volunteering or starting a career in fire protection.

The four-credit course will teach fire behavior and fire control techniques to seven area high schools and will meet all requirements of Firefighter I certification in Wisconsin.

“It’s an opportunity for interested high school students to take a look at this as a career or a way to help their local communities if it’s something they thought of, but never had the opportunity to try out,” Jim Austad, fire protection department chair, said. 

All training will be done at the Public Safety Training Center.

Austad said FVTC is one of four programs to receive part of a $75,000 Youth Volunteer Firefighter Training Program grant from DSPS.