Fire Science Program reinstated
By Jo Zulkowsky
In the fall of 1999, IVCC is going to reinstate the Fire Science Program that has been inactive for several years.
The first course to be offered will be Fire Fighting 2, FST 120, taught by Gary Yanko. Lori Nall, chair of the social science division, said surveys will be taken to see what the needs of the local fire departments are. The results could lead to such classes as fire rescue, prevention, or investigation, she said.
The fire fighting course will meet on campus and then go on site to local fire departments for labs, Nall explained. The labs won’t be held at the same site every time, so firefighters will experience working in different environments. The firefighters will be using their own equipment in the labs.
Nall said enrollment in the program will come from both inside and outside of the college district since the program is based in the fire district rather than in the college district. Letters will be sent to local fire departments informing them about the program.
Organizers are seeking grant information to help defray tuition costs for the firefighters.
The program is aimed at people who are working either as paid or as volunteer firefighters, not at students interested in becoming firefighters, Nall explained.
Students interested in preparing for a fire fighting career should contact Dr. John Allen, associate vice president of academic affairs, so arrangements can be made with Joliet Junior College or Illinois Central College, both of which offer beginning fire fighting programs.
IVCC has offered Fire Science Technology courses for many years, leading to certificates and an A.A.S. degree, but enrollment had decreased over the past six to seven years and the program was considered inactive, Nall said. Individual courses did continue to be offered when requested by local fire departments.
Efforts re now being made to bring the program back to the point where regularly scheduled fire science classes are offered.
"I think it will be very helpful to fire departments since they say they need a program such as this," Nall said. "After all, we are here to meet the communities’ needs and we should offer this program if they need it."
Efforts to reinstate the program are being headed by Nall, Yanko, Art Foltynewicz, coordinator of the Volunteer Firefighters Association; Mary Lou Meader, director of continuing education; and Dr. Harriet Custer, vice president of academic affairs.
March 15, 1999 the Apache