Firefighter Academy Gives Students a Head Start

Rhea-AI Summary

Marathon Petroleum supports high school students in North Dakota aspiring to become professional firefighters through a grant for equipment and certification courses. The program aims to provide hands-on experience and career opportunities for students interested in firefighting.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 20, 2024 / Marathon Petroleum Corporation

• Some North Dakota teenagers are getting first-hand experience with the skills they would need to become professional firefighters.
• The city of Dickinson's fire department conducts a certification course for high school students, qualifying them for college credit and positioning them to apply for jobs in firefighting.
• A grant from Marathon Petroleum's Dickinson renewable diesel facility is helping the fire department provide equipment for students who enroll in the course.

High school students in southwestern North Dakota who want to become firefighters don't have to wait to find out what it's like. A two-semester course taught by the city of Dickinson's fire department offers students opportunities to earn certification for entering the field. Using the same tools and equipment as professional firefighters is essential to the program, which prompted a recent $2,000 grant to the fire department from Marathon Petroleum's Dickinson renewable diesel facility.

"In the future, we might be working side by side with these students if we ever need to call upon outside help or are asked to assist another department."

"The city's fire department provides personal protective equipment for the students, which is quite costly, and this grant will help with some of that expense," said the renewable diesel facility's Interim Fire Chief Nate Eberle.

The city fire department's Firefighter 1 Academy course is administered through the Roughrider Area Career and Technical Center, a regional facility that serves schools from 12 area communities. Completing the course gives students options when deciding which direction to take after graduating from high school. They qualify for credits toward a fire science degree at Dickinson State University and are also in position to pursue jobs with fire departments.

"Most departments in the state will require, at minimum, Firefighter 1 certification, which is what students will get after they have successfully completed the cognitive and practical exams," said Eberle. "This program also offers Firefighter 2 certification as a possibility for students."

The grant from the Dickinson renewable diesel facility adds to its ongoing support for the local community and first responders throughout the area. The facility's fire brigade maintains a mutual aid agreement with all surrounding fire departments in Stark County, meaning they will provide resources and equipment to each other, as needed, during emergencies. Eberle pointed out how the grant brings it all full circle.

"In the future, we might be working side by side with these students if we ever need to call upon outside help or are asked to assist another department," he said.

At the grant check presentation, (L-R) Dickinson Lieutenant Dustin Hofer, Dickinson Senior Firefighter Mason Gieger, (in red shirts) students enrolled in the Firefighter 1 Academy course, Dickinson Firefighter Matthew Davenport, Dickinson Renewable Diesel Facility Manager Nick Bear and Dickinson Renewable Diesel Facility Interim Fire Chief Nate Eberle.

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SOURCE: Marathon Petroleum Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is Marathon Petroleum doing to support high school students in North Dakota?

Marathon Petroleum is providing a grant to the city of Dickinson's fire department to help equip high school students enrolled in a certification course for firefighting.

What opportunities does the certification course offer to students?

The certification course offers students the chance to earn Firefighter 1 certification, with the possibility of also obtaining Firefighter 2 certification. It provides a pathway towards a fire science degree at Dickinson State University and opportunities for firefighting jobs.

How is the grant from Marathon Petroleum's Dickinson renewable diesel facility benefiting the program?

The grant is helping cover the cost of personal protective equipment for students in the program, making it more accessible for high school students in southwestern North Dakota who aspire to become firefighters.

What is the significance of the grant from the Dickinson renewable diesel facility?

The grant showcases Marathon Petroleum's ongoing support for the local community and first responders in the area. It strengthens the relationship between the facility's fire brigade and surrounding fire departments.

Which certifications can students obtain through the program?

Students can achieve Firefighter 1 certification upon successful completion of the course, with the opportunity to pursue Firefighter 2 certification as well.