Firefighting Program Offered to Students at Acadiana High School

SCOTT, Louisiana (KLF) — Scott Fire Chief Chad Sonnier said a new program in schools could finally bring new firefighters into the profession for years to come after struggling to recruit and retain for too long.

“Volunteers are becoming increasingly scarce, people are now working two jobs and families are becoming busier,” Sonnier said. “So it’s very difficult for people to volunteer their time. So we’ve seen a steady decline across the country.”

In an effort to increase the number of firefighters trained and ready to enter the field, Sonnier said the Scott Fire Department has partnered with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Lafayette Fire Department and the Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Academy to bring proper firefighter training and education to area high school students; they provide classroom training at Acadiana High School and hands-on training at the Lafayette Fire Department’s training center.

“The classroom lessons will basically be about the national standards, why we do what we do, how to do it properly, and then we’ll go out and do a live evolution, whether it’s role holes, whether it’s firefighting, you know, whatever it may be,” Sonnier said. “We teach them and educate them in the classroom so they know. Then we’ll go out and apply the practical skills that they just learned in the classroom.”

The courses are taken by students during their junior and senior years and will provide students with several national and international fire service certifications so they can be prepared to join the department in Scott, Lafayette or anywhere else in the state of Louisiana.

“But it may also save a life one day,” Sonnier said. “But beyond that, whether they’re performing CPR or pulling someone out of a burning house, they may be able to save someone’s life, and that’s priceless. And if we save one person’s life through this program, it’s worth all the effort that went into putting it together.”

Any Acadiana High School students interested in enrolling in the program can contact their school counselor and can also contact the Scott Fire Department with any questions.

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