Garden City donates fire engine to Savannah Tech

GARDEN CITY, Ga. – Savannah Technical College’s Fire Science students now have their own fire engine to enhance their education and training thanks to Garden City’s Mayor, Council, and Fire Chief.

“We appreciate the generosity of Garden City and its fire department,” said STC President Dr. Kathy S. Love. “The equipment is a welcome addition to Savannah Technical College’s hands-on training opportunities for Fire Science students.”

This fully functional 1979 Ford fire engine was originally purchased new by the city and served the citizens of Garden City for more than 35 years. Recently retired from the city’s fleet, this fire engine will take on a new life as a training tool.

“This donation is a great example of our continued effort to establish mutual beneficial partnerships with organizations and businesses throughout our community to improve the services for our citizens,” said Garden City Mayor Don Bethune.

In exchange for the donation, the College is facilitating two promotional assessment centers for the Garden City Fire Department during the next two years.

Blake Hodge, Garden City’s Fire Chief added, “Today’s fire service promotes experience, formal education, training, and continued education; often referred to as the four legged stool of progressive fire service leadership development. The opportunity to support the Fire Science Program at Savannah Technical College is an honor. Local fire services will reap the benefits delivered to firefighters through their educational experiences, thus improving service delivery our citizens and traveling public.”

This fire engine will be an integral part of STC’s firefighter certification programs, as well as other experience-based educational fire classes.  “Most of Savannah Tech’s students pursuing their certifications as a firefighter have little, if any, fire service experience,” said STC Fire Science Department Head Anthony Faust. “Having their own fire truck to train with and take care of will instill a sense of pride among our students, enhance their teamwork skills, and motivate them to learn the skills required to safely and effectively function in today’s fire service.”

The STC Fire Science programs prepare graduates for successful careers in the fire and emergency service field, whether they are looking to obtain required certifications to apply to fire departments nationwide or wish to obtain their degree to qualify for promotion into leadership positions at their department. Many of the classes meet the educational criteria established by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (ProBoard) allowing students to challenge various national fire service certifications including Fire Officer I & II, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Instructor I, Hazardous Materials Operations, Fire & Life Safety Educator, etc.

All Fire Science classes are scheduled to help students attend college, while balancing their home/life/work obligations with a combination of evening and online classes with practical hands-on training occurring at various area fire departments. The Fire Science Degree/Diploma programs’ schedules were recently reconfigured utilizing the miniterm format, which enables students to obtain their fire science degree or diploma in one year. The STC Fire Science program office is located to the Crossroads campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, Savannah, 31407). Interested students should contact Faust at afaust@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.3386.

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