School days are right around the corner, and some students are seriously thinking about careers and course work. For those interested in firefighting, the Fire and Rescue Emergency

Chris Bell during firefighting training.

Medical Technician program offered at Leonardtown’s Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center is a good bet.

‘The tech-center program is great for students and for us,” said Chief Francis Raley of the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, St. Mary’s County Company 4. He explained that an adult volunteer would have to take the Firefighter 1 course, most likely at night, after two years on the job. The course is part of the curriculum at the tech-center, and credits apply toward a high school senior’s graduation.

The fire-rescue program includes classroom instruction and formal training at selected local fire companies, Ridge, Hollywood and Leonardtown among them. Students are required to complete a minimum of 138 hours of work-based learning over a year, 4 periods, most often as a high school senior. Courses include Firefighter 1, Incident Management System, and Emergency Response to Terrorism, Hazardous Materials Operations, Firefighter 2 and Rescue Site. Classroom training is provided by instructors from the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, University of Maryland.

“You are not going to get by just by being in class,” said Chris Bell, class of 2008 at Leonardtown High School, who recently completed the fire-rescue program. “You have to ask your line officers questions and really take part in the practice sessions.”

On the other hand, life-long friends can be made working with students studying and volunteering at various fire departments. “In this line of duty you need friends,” Bell said, explaining that, while he is a volunteer at the Leonardtown Fire Department, he had course work with Hollywood firefighters. He added the fire-rescue program “is a big boost and has everything to become a paid” or volunteer firefighter.

“We are always looking for volunteers,” said John Trossbach, fire chief at the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, St. Mary’s County Company 1. He explained he is a paid firefighter on the Navy’s base in Patuxent, but has been a volunteer for 12 years. “I love it,” he said.

Once trained, volunteer firefighters combat, extinguish and prevent fires. They provide patient care at medical emergencies, respond to hazardous material incidents and emergencies calls and operate and maintain fire department equipment apparatus and facilities.

Volunteer applicants must be 16 years of age, complete an application and pass a criminal background check. All necessary firefighting, rescue and emergency medical training is provided free of charge. At age 55 or after 20 years of service, firefighters are eligible for retirement through the St. Mary’s County Length of Service Award Program. A Maryland state tax break of $3,500 is possible based on an accumulated-point system.

For information about the Fire and Rescue Emergency Medical Technician program, call (301-475-0242).