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Firefighting
For more information, check out the information flyer.
Firefighters help protect the public against dangers by rapidly responding to a variety of emergencies. They are frequently the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to put out a fire, treat injuries, or perform other vital functions. They also rescue victims and provide emergency medical attention as needed.
Firefighters work in a variety of settings, including urban and suburban areas, airports, chemical plants, other industrial sites, and rural areas like grasslands and forests. In addition, some firefighters work in hazardous materials units that are trained for the control, prevention, and cleanup of oil spills and other hazardous materials incidents. Workers in urban and suburban areas, airports, and industrial sites typically use conventional firefighting equipment and tactics, while forest fires and major hazardous materials spills call for different methods.
The Firefighting program is approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) for paid firefighters and the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic(EMT-B) course is approved by the Texas Department of Health (TDH). Students that complete all appropriate program requirements are eligible to apply for firefighter certification from TCFP and EMT-Basic certification from TDH.
The VC Firefighting program is scheduled as a part-time, weeknight and weekend program that spans two semesters. Weeknight classes are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6pm to 10pm. Selected Saturday sessions are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fall semester is 16 weeks beginning late August through mid-December. The spring semester is 16 weeks from mid-January to mid-May and includes a two-day (Friday and Saturday) live fire experience at Texas A&M's Brayton Fireman Training Field in College Station. The EMT-B course may be taken before or after the series of firefighting courses. See the Emergency Medical Service Professions section of this catalog for more information about this course.
Faculty and Staff
| Name/Email | Title | Location | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Voskamp MBA | Coordinator, EMS and Firefighting Program | JH 100G | 361-572-6447 |
| Stella Gutierrez | Program Secretary | JH 100 | 361-572-6417 |