The Kilgore College Fire Academy just completed the first-ever Wildland Firefighter class at KC using the curriculum of the National Wildland Coordination Group (NWCG).
The 40-hour class was accomplished with a partnership and memorandum of understanding between Texas A&M Forest Service and KC.
“We hired highly credentialed, motivated and passionate instructors that were vetted and approved to teach the course by Texas A&M Forest Service with certifications for NWCG which allows the student to fight wildland fire nationally and internationally,” said Johnny Zackary, director of the KC Fire Academy.
Firefighters who completed the class also earned a Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Basic Wildland Certification that can be utilized at their respective fire departments and across Texas.
This relationship between KC and the Texas A&M Forest Service allows more firefighters to earn these certifications to ensure Texas is ready for the next wildfire incident.
“We are in the planning phase for the next class we will offer in the fall,” Zackary said.
For more information on the KC Fire Academy, visit www.kilgore.edu/fire-academy.
ABOUT THE CLASS:
Texas A&M Forest Service provides nationally accredited wildfire and emergency management training throughout Texas to local, state and federal organizations. Training opportunities are offered that accommodate as few as one firefighter to an entire host organization or to multiple organizations. Texas A&M Forest Service training is coordinated by the Incident Response Department Training Section and delivered by qualified and experienced agency staff.
PHOTO: The first-ever Wildland Firefighter class at KC. Photo by Rachel Stallard/KC