The Aberdeen Fire Department, working with the Twin Harbors Skills Center, will be holding a firefighting academy for rising juniors and seniors over the summer, teaching them the basics of the profession.

The two-week course will count for class credit, as well as teaching a variety of hard and soft skills, said fire services specialist Mitch Housden. It’s the second iteration of the course, following a first run last summer.

“Twin Harbors Skills Center and us are patterning up to do a fire science program during the summer time,” Housden said in an interview. “The students will get credit through the school. They’ll learn first aid, CPR. They’ll get their CPR card through the program.”

The students will be issued gear for the course, learning how to use the air packs, how to deploy hoses, and how fire behaves, among other things, Housden said. The class is good, even for students that don’t necessarily want to go into the firefighting profession, said firefighter Brandon Rayner.

“I would encourage them to enroll in it regardless of their skill level or interest level,” Rayner said. “I think it’s a good experience all around for someone who’s joining the workforce in any fashion.”

The department, working with the Twin Harbors Skill Center, premiered the program last year, Housden said.

“This is the second year we’re doing this. Chief Golding and Lynn Green put this together,” Housden said. “Last year went great. We had eight students. For the first year, it went really well.”

This year, they’re aiming to fill all 12 seats, Housden said. The course is free, two weeks long, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, and will take place in a variety of locations, from the school district to the main station to the South Beach Regional Fire Authority’s training center near Westport, Housden said. Anyone is eligible to participate, Housden said.

“We’ll be hitting the ground running,” Housden said. “It’ll be a physically demanding course, but everyone can do it.”

Transportation and lunches will be provided by the school district. Housden said he hopes it can spark an interest in firefighting for some of the participants.

“It’s loosely based off the Montesano program. Hopefully it’s going to lead into a cadet program here at the station,” Housden said. “(We’re) trying to get local kids interested in a career. Hopefully in the future, they come work with us.”

At least a few students from last year’s course have gone further with the profession, Rayner said.

“One of them came back and did their senior project here, Rayner said. “Another is a volunteer over at District 2.”

Firefighters from AFD volunteer to teach subject blocks, Housden said.

“They volunteer to teach a class, something they believe heavily in. Every instructor feels very strongly about what they’re teaching. They pick a topic and they run with it,” Housden said. “I’m surprised by the kids’ participation and willingness to try to new things. Everyone jumped right in eventually.”

For questions or to sign up, contact the Twin Harbors Skill Center at 360-538-2038.

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or michael.lockett@thedailyworld.com.