ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida is home to one of only two high school fire training programs in the state.

East River High School Junior Christina Gonzalez is part of one of those programs and practices suiting up in her firefighter gear with her fellow firefighter academy students — trying to do it in less than a minute, just like professional firefighters.

“We do this at least a couple times a week to make sure we’re under the minute mark," she said. "It’s kinda fun.”  

She originally got into the class just out of curiosity, but quickly fell in love with the program as she learned exciting new skills.

Because the students are taking the training in high school, they’re getting it for free, and Gonzalez said it sure beats sitting in a classroom all day.

“It’s actually super fun, especially when all my boring classes, this is the class I look forward to every day,” she said. 

And When Gonzalez and the others graduate, lead fire instructor David Weiser said they'll be able to step right into a career.

“Not every student is ready to go to college at 18, this is an opportunity to get into the work force," he said. "Many firefighters go back and finish their degree while they’re working and allows them to move up rank."

Weiser added that with so many openings in Central Florida fire departments, these students will be able to serve their own communities — which is exactly what Gonzalez plans to do.

“I really want to pursue this," she said. "It’s really fun and I always wanted to help out like my community by anything actually."

Thanks to the school program’s partnership with Valencia College, these students can also graduate with an associate’s degree in fire science.

The program is in it's second year and currently has about 60 students participating, but Weiser said they expect to have at least 80 next year.