FLINT – The Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Fire Training Center to be located on the campus of the Genesee Career Institute (GCI) in Flint. GCI is the county’s career and technical education training center, operated by GISD, where high school students gain experiential learning in many career areas that help prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce or college, upon completion of high school and the GCI program.
The addition of the Fire Training Center building will allow up to 72 high school students enrolled in the GCI Fire Training Academy at GCI each year to have advanced study opportunities that can translate into both a Fire Certification and an EMT Certification. This new state-of-the-art facility will be the first of its kind as a stand-alone fire training facility that is not part of a municipal fire department. The training facility will include areas for roof rescue, several flights of stairs and long hoses, and an apparatus bay setup with a fire truck and all equipment necessary for students to simulate loading up and responding to fire calls.
Last year the Genesee Career Institute, in partnership with the Genesee County Association of Fire Chiefs, instituted its first Fire Training Academy for Genesee County high school students. Developed in response to a high-demand need for firefighters in Genesee County and the state, students learn to become firefighters at the academy where they receive the same levels of training that all firefighters receive. Upon completion of the Fire Training Academy, students take a written and practical examination to be certified through the State of Michigan to meet the qualifications of Fire Fighter 1 & 2, allowing them to graduate high school and step right into the firefighting field.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new training facility was held at 11:00 a.m. , on Monday, September 26, at the Genesee Career Institute, G-5081 Torrey Road, in Flint
