The Valdosta Fire Department will host its fourth annual Citizens Fire Academy designed to educate the residential and business communities about the services provided by the VFD, to increase fire and life safety awareness and to establish community partnerships.
 
The academy is scheduled on nine consecutive Tuesday nights, from 6 to 9 p.m., beginning on Aug. 29 and concluding on Oct. 24. All classes will be held at the Valdosta Regional Training Center unless otherwise stated. Citizens must be at least 18 years of age and complete an application, background check and release of liability form. Although the program is free, Valdosta Fire Chief Freddie Broome will ask all participants for their commitments to attend all nine weeks of the program.
 
“The only thing this program will cost citizens is their time,” said Fire Chief Broome. “Much effort has been made to offer a quality program that will benefit our citizens. I can assure all participants that it will be time well spent, getting an inside look into the fire and life safety services of this department.”
 
Participants will learn all aspects of the department’s operations, have an opportunity to participate in the VFD’s Ride-Along Program, and will receive valuable life safety CPR certification training. Program days are scheduled as followed:
 
Week 1: Orientation

Week 2: Introduction to VFD

Week 3: Communications

Week 4: Fire Prevention

Week 5: CPR/First Aid

Week 6: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)/Search and Rescue

Week 7: Georgia Search and Rescue and Extrication

Week 8: Live Burn and Firefighter Rehabilitation

Week 9: Final Review and Graduation
 
The program is limited to 25 participants, and the deadline to apply is Tuesday, Aug. 1. Download the VFD Citizens Fire Academy application or complete the online application form.