Community Connections: HCC Fire Academy delivers new cadets

Apr 2, 2015

In the first three months of 2015, 37 fire cadets graduated from the Houston Community College Fire Academy.

The first class of 23 celebrated their success in January. The second class of 14, which included three women, celebrated their achievements in March. All cadets completed the required academic instruction and months of intense training in basic structural firefighting, which is offered at the HCC Public Safety Institute.

Cadets go through physical and mental agility challenges to prepare to serve as first responders. The instructors are highly experienced faculty and firefighters. Those who successfully complete the program and pass the state exam are eligible to work at fire departments in and around the Houston area.

During the January ceremony the cadets were recognized for their achievements and heard words of encouragement by keynote speaker Larry DiCamillo, a City of Houston firefighter and volunteer fire chief for the Stafford Fire Department.

Special guests who attended the ceremonies included HCC Trustee Eva Loredo, District VIII and Mary Sullivan, the mother of firefighter Anne Sullivan, one of four Houston firefighters who died in the Southwest Inn fire in 2013. Sullivan attended in honor of her daughter and in support of DiCamillo who both served at Firehouse 68.

Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, president of HCC Northeast said, “We thank you for your commitment to serve the Houston community and the families who are impacted each day.”

The HCC Fire Academy is offered at the Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, Houston, Texas 77013. For more information on the Fire Technology program, call 713-718-8300 or visit northeast.hccs.edu.