Columbia, CA…The Columbia College Fire Academy will hold its graduation ceremony and presentation of certificates to 25 students who successfully completed the Fire Technology Program this spring. The event, which is open to the general public, will be held Thursday, April 26, 2018 beginning at 6 p.m. in the Oak Pavilion at the college.

The certificates will be awarded based on the students’ successful performance in the academic and manipulative training as mandated for a California Firefighter 1 Certification. The students must still complete six months of full-time or one year of part-time field experience before applying to the state for Firefighter I Certification. “Some of the graduates will apply for reserve, intern and volunteer positions at local fire departments, others will continue in positions they have held since entering the academy” said Chief Shane Warner, Columbia College Fire Technology Program Coordinator/Instructor. “Some of the students have already applied through a standard application process for seasonal employment with CAL Fire, Forest Service, and local fire agencies said Instructor Andy VanHoogmoed.

In addition to the “routine” fire training classes, students received specialized training involving Low Angle Rope Rescue Training, Incident Command System, Hazardous Materials Training, Seasonal Wildland Firefighting classes, Confined Space, Basic Power Saw Safety, and live fire suppression training which was conducted at the Twain Harte’s Fire Department Training Center. A special thank you goes out to: Columbia College Fire Department, Columbia Fire District, Sonora City Fire Department, Twain Harte Fire Department, Tuolumne County Fire Department, CAL Fire TCU, U.S. Forest Service, and Sierra Conservation Center.

At the ceremony, Angela Fairchilds, President of Columbia College, will deliver a welcome message, Kent Cunningham CAL Fire TCU Battalion Chief will deliver the Keynote Address, and Battalion Chief Jason Culbertson from Waterloo-Morada Fire Department will present closing thoughts.

A highlight of the evening is the viewing of a student-produced audiovisual presentation of their intensive 16 weeks of training. The rigorous training is designed to help serious candidates meet the requirements for demanding careers as professional firefighters, including more than 576 hours of academic and manipulative training, according to Chief Shane Warner.

The Spring 2018 Columbia College Fire Academy graduates:

Graduation Class of Spring 2018          Crew Leader – Ian Kenealy

First Squad                                                  Second Squad                                            Third Squad

*Brian Mantor                                                         * Patrick McCaleb                                    * Vaughn Warriner

Jacob Alvarado                                             Kyle Baize                                                    Louis Huntley

John Clark                                                      Emily Duncan                                             Anton Sonke

David Heston-Sanders                                Nathanael Higle                                      Bailey Amburgery-Wilkes

Patience Good                                             Jarrod Garrison

Sam Brumm

Fourth Squad                                             Fifth Squad

*Kevin Pixley                                              *Daulton Lyons

Michael Brautovich                                Joseph Campbell

Austin Echols                                                Efren Northcutt

Brett Jones                                                    John Wheeler

Devin Terrill

For further information contact Fire Academy Instructors – Chief Shane Warner at (209) 588-5308 or Captain Andy VanHoogmoed at (209) 588-5153