TCC Fire Academy celebrates 100 percent pass rate for fourth graduating class

The 4^th class from the Fire Academy at Tallahassee Community College is celebrating the unprecedented feat achieving a 100 percent pass rate for both the written and practical skills exam. 100 percent of the graduates were successful on the state licensure exams.

“Our students receive the best training possible,” said Melvin Stone, a retired Fire Marshall and TCC's Fire Academy Coordinator. “We offer a top-rate program that encompasses a wide range of fire issues including behavior and control of fire, fire prevention, fire cause determination and search and rescue procedures. It's tough, and it's thorough.”

Stone credits the Fire Academy's instructors with the high passing ratio of students in the program. “They are to be commended for their outstanding contributions to assist students throughout each training session and supporting the College's vision of education,” he said. “They help make this program a reality.”

TCC's Fire Academy program is a 450-hour course and meets the requirements set forth by the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal for certification as a firefighter.

“We went through some serious training in this program, and not just with fire hoses,” said Marquis Taylor who graduated this session. “Being a fire fighter is more than putting out fires, it's also about saving lives and property.”

“I'm also much more aware of fire safety hazards and I look for problems wherever I go now, even when I'm visiting family and friends or just going to a movie theater.”

Prior to the inception of TCC's Fire Academy, the closest training center was at Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. A program was subsequently established in Tallahassee through a partnership between TCC's Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy and the City of Tallahassee Fire Department Training Division.

“I graduated from TCC's Fire Academy program, and I'm currently enrolled in the College's EMT [emergency medical technician] program,” said Lowell Bebout, another 4^th class graduate. “I really appreciate TCC's program. It's a true introduction into the brotherhood of fire fighters.”

To learn more about the Fire Academy, please contact Melvin Stone, at (850) 201-7000.