Applications Accepted for First Ever Tulsa Regional Fire Academy

The first ever Tulsa Regional Fire Academy launches in fall 2018 providing a chance for individuals to earn college credit while completing firefighter training. The inaugural class is a result of a partnership with the Tulsa Fire Department and Tulsa Community College.

Applications for the first class of the Tulsa Regional Fire Academy will be accepted through June 1, 2018.

“TCC and the Tulsa Fire Department are excited about this pilot project and hope to lead the way by offering potential firefighters in northeast Oklahoma the opportunity to become skilled and certified in our state-of-the-art fire training facility,” said Regional Fire Academy Director, Chief Greta Hurt of Tulsa Fire Department.

The Tulsa Regional Fire Academy takes place at the Tulsa Fire Safety Training Center on the TCC Northeast Campus. The Tulsa Fire Safety Training Center is a partnership between TCC, TFD and the City of Tulsa and opened in July 2015. The Tulsa Regional Fire Academy is an academic program that allows a student to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and prepares the student to be a firefighter.

“Training firefighters is part of TCC’s fabric, dating back to 1970 as one of our original degree programs. Just as the industry has changed, we have evolved our efforts in producing graduates that are ready to step into the job as a firefighter,” said TCC President & CEO Leigh B. Goodson, Ph.D.

Students in the Tulsa Regional Fire Academy will earn a 16-credit hour Fire and Emergency Medical Services Certificate, Advanced Firefighter option from TCC. Students can then apply those college credit hours to a Fire & Emergency Medical Services Associate of Applied Science degree. After successfully completing the academy, students will meet the minimum requirements to be employed as a firefighter in the State of Oklahoma and will hold certifications in FF1, FF2, HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, FLAG, Advanced Auto Extrication, Advanced Fire Behavior, Wildland Firefighting and more.

“The Tulsa Regional Fire Academy will be a tremendous resource and benefit the citizens of Tulsa and the region. We believe this type of program leads to more qualified candidates not just for Tulsa but for all area fire departments. Safety for our firefighters is also a critical element since this academy is expected to increase the skill level and standard of training on a local level,” said Tulsa Fire Chief Ray Driskell.

The Tulsa Regional Fire Academy will be a challenging concentrated semester program. Classes will consist of a combination of classroom, hands-on skills training, and physical fitness in a paramilitary environment and will meet Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and will be responsible for the cost of tuition, books, uniforms, gear rental and certification fees.

Only 20 students will be selected and students must submit the Fire Academy Application, a doctor’s signed physical or release, copy of Oklahoma driver license and proof of insurance by June 1 for consideration. For more information please call Chief Greta Hurt at 918-596-1989.