General Information:

The Citizens Fire Academy is an educational course that will aid participants in assisting their families and community in times of emergencies.

This course is offered once a year at no cost to the attendees. The 2008 class is scheduled to begin in mid-July with graduation scheduled in early November. Classes will be held every other Thursday. The registration deadline is June 15th.

Classes will cover various topics and include:

• Guest speakers from various divisions such as the Fire Chief’s office, the Fire Marshal’s office and the Office of Emergency Management. Classes will cover the history, organization and administration of the fire department. The role of the fire department, demonstrations of apparatus and equipment will also be included.

• HazMat and rescue operation demonstrations.

• Disaster preparedness and the role of the fire department in the community.

• The basics of fire suppression to include “live-fire” training.

• Emergency medical response including disaster medical operations.

• Day to Day operations of Fire Department, including daily duties and ride-alongs during emergency calls.

• Graduation and Awards: Yes, your hard work and dedication will be rewarded at the end of the Academy!

•The program is open to anyone, 21 years or older, that is interested in the fire service. The program is not designed for people seeking a career in the fire service. Although the class provides a good overview, it is general in nature and not as technical as some fire science courses available at a community college.

Class Size/Selection of Participants:

Each class will be limited to 20 participants. SAFETY is of the utmost concern and this class size encourages a safer learning environment. Citizens are selected based on demographics and the citizen’s ability to reach other members in the Brentwood community. In preparing for the academy, efforts will be made to include members of the educational, religious, business, and ethnic communities, as well as media representatives. Final selection of participants rests with the Fire Department. General background checks of potential participants are conducted. Participants will be contacted to ensure they are familiar with the program and the time commitment involved.