In-school career training is getting some Flagler County high school students trained to be future firefighters and first responders and the inaugural program is helping students stay on track.

  • Flagler Palm Coast High School has future firefighter program
  • Fire Leadership Academy certifies fire responders, trains homegrown talent
  • Flagler County Fire Department partnering with the school

"You all are a part of history because you are the first class at Flagler Palm Coast High School to complete the first responder course so you've definitely made history," said Anna Crawford, assistant principal.

Tuesday, the Fire Leadership Academy students received their first round of certifications for the beginning of the program. Now students like Tyler Allese are certified first responders and in four years the goal is to graduate, career ready.

"It kept me very disciplined because I know that at the end of four years I'd have a career to look forward to instead of goofing around in school. I have something to focus on," Allese, ninth grade student.

His Flagler Palm Coast High School class was a part of the first 50 students to start the nation's first-ever program.

"A program like this just allows for structure and allows for an opportunity to better themselves instead of putting them down a typical career path," said Allese.

Students put on full fire gear, learned CPR, and completed coursework needed for their certifications. The program includes local fire department staff who come in to help out the students.

"When you're with some of the best firefighters in our class and you're just working along with them, wearing the same clothes, you're kind of role modeling them and learning from them," said Allese.

Not only does this help students prepare for a career, but the fire chief who assisted the instructor and assistant school principal with certificates, said it also helps students stay out of trouble and hopefully keeps them local.

"There are kids that are made to go to college, whether it's financially or motivational, they need to have some type of trade they want to go into. We'll have homegrown talent that we get to train ourselves and we get to see their personalities and be able to hire them to keep them here," said Chief Don Petito, Flagler County Fire Department.

The chief said it took nearly two years to get the program off the ground. Now after starting in January 2017, it will build on the amount of students in the program and add additional periods when the class is taught during school.

Students who take this class receive credit from the Department of Education and the State Fire Marshal for their work, once they pass state exams they could start applying for jobs.

The students credit their instructor Lt. Andrew Keppler for the knowledge they are learning.

"The class has been amazing, the kids taking part in the class has been eye opening to see that there's a generation out there that is willing to step up and help their community. Ultimately it comes up to them and their needs and their willingness to want to learn the material and wanting to apply that and I'd say I have almost 50 kids that have that want," said Keppler.

Keppler said the students are keeping him youthful and giving him a new experience as a teacher.

"It's definitely sent me in a new direction and given me a new purpose to finish my career with and refreshed my love for the fire department," said Keppler.

The students said the plan is finish all the way through.

"I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to volunteer if I can. Now I have a duty to act upon a situation that requires an emergency," said Allese.

Right now the program is only at Flagler Palm Coast High School.

Keppler said schools from other states are calling to find out how they can start the program as well.