Westmont, Illinois -- Date Issued: January 10, 2023
The Westmont Fire Department is once again hosting its Citizens Fire Academy (CFA) this spring. The classes will be held in person at the Johanik Fire Station Headquarters, 6015 S. Cass Avenue. The CFA is a five-week program that will run from April 12 through May 10 on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a graduation ceremony on the last day of the program.
“We’re very happy to host this important program again this year,” said CFA Instructor Pat Schultz. “We plan to continue to provide hands-on training and experiences as well as classroom education. We look forward to seeing everyone again.”
The CFA program is designed to help citizens better understand the Fire Department’s firefighting and rescue operations as well as the multitude of services it provides to the community. The five-week course is not designed to train future firefighters, but to educate residents who are interested in gaining an insider’s view of the lives of professional firefighters and EMS personnel.
The curriculum is divided into three areas: classroom participation, hands-on practical training, and live fireground activities. CPR and first aid is also covered during the course. The course also includes fire safety training for the home and workplace. Every aspect of the program is voluntary, so if a participant prefers to observe rather than take part in a particular exercise, the experience will be adapted to ensure that the activity is interesting and enjoyable.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age, of good standing within the community, and reside, work, or volunteer within the Village of Westmont. There is no fee to attend. For further information or to request an application, please contact Pat Schultz at the Westmont Fire Department at pschultz@westmont.il.gov or 630-981-6441.
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