Blue Ridge Community College, in conjunction with the Henderson County Fire and Rescue Association, recently celebrated the graduation of 10 students from its 2020 Fire Academy.
This three month program is designed to provide students with entry-level skills as a firefighter. A student can enter the Academy with no experience and leave with a North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal Firefighter certification.
Blue Ridge Fire Protection Technology/Emergency Management chair Brad Toms stated, “This is a solid group of graduates. As a group they have received several positive compliments from our instructors and chief officers who have been around our program.”
Toms added, “This academy gives students a feel for what to expect when entering the fire service, how to work and operate in a team environment and gives them access to our local departments and what those agencies are looking for and asking of their new hires.”
The list of graduates includes:
Arden
Justin Torin Coggins, Skyland Fire Rescue
Travis Michael Zody, Skyland Fire Rescue
Hendersonville
Michael Anthony Dunne, City of Hendersonville Fire Department
Timothy Lee Eplee Jr., Etowah-Horse Shoe Fire Rescue
Haley Marcell Hrabar, Blue Ridge Fire Department
Brevard
Samuel Vadim Hunnicutt, Brevard Fire Department
Fletcher
Lawrence Martin Jackson, Edneyville Fire Department
Gerton
Jacob Freeman Lyda, Gerton Fire Department
Pisgah Forest
Benjamin Lewis Scott, Brevard Fire Department
Weaverville
Hector Alejandro Serna, Rims Creek Fire Department
For more information about the Fire Academy, visit blueridge.edu or contact Toms at (828) 694-1736 or via email at b_toms@blueridge.edu.