Fire in the hole!
Fulton High School students pursuing Fire Management in the school’s Academy of Public Service were surprised on Wednesday afternoon as a 1997 Emergency One Hurricane Pumper rolled into the parking lot.
The truck was a donation from the Knoxville Fire Department and the City of Knoxville surplus.
“This truck has served the city for decades, and it’s going to keep doing that – in a different but equally important way: educating the next generation of first responders,” said Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon.
Students on the Fire Management pathway in the 865 Academies take courses in fire prevention and fire science aligned with the National Fire Academy Fire and Emergency Services model. They learn about the regulations, health and safety protocols, communications, and operations that impact emergency responders and will graduate well-prepared to enroll at a training facility, which is the first step for a career in firefighting, fire inspection, arson investigation, or emergency services.
Even before the academy model launched at Fulton, the school had a long history of producing top-notch leaders for the KFD – when the department launched an Explorer Post in 1974 to help students kick-start their firefighting careers, half the inaugural class was from Fulton.
And, three of the last seven KFD chiefs were Fulton grads!
KFD Deputy Chief Gary Compton said the department has seen a decrease in the number of applications received over the years, so they realize the need to “get the attention of the local kids.”
“The dedication of this fire truck today reflects our continued commitment to the school and to helping develop future firefighters,” said KFD Fire Chief Stan Sharp. “We hope we can see this program expand to more high schools in the future.”
Organizations interested in partnering with this or other 865 Academies can learn more here.