College fire cadets prepare for Fire Challenge

 The ACC Fire Academy began its first semester at its new home at the Austin Fire Department's training facility. The Academy had been located in Taylor, Texas for 19 years. Taking advantage of its new facilities, the Academy is training cadets for the Firefighter Challenge held every year at the Buda Fire Fest.

"We are like a division two team going up against a division one," Paul Menches, Chair of the Fire Protection Technology Department, told the six cadets that huddled around him at the base of the fire tower a week before the Fire Fest. Cadets Jonathan Gonzales, Christian Scacco, Brain Yeasley, Jacob McBride, Andrew Marsh, and Chris Sukup had three extra practices during the week to in order to get ready for the Firefighter Challenge held Oct. 3.

The six cadets were chosen by their peers out of the class of 33 to represent the ACC Fire Academy. The Academy is a 17 week program that qualifies cadets for the state certification necessary to get a job as a firefighter.

"We'd like to make it an annual thing for this academy," said Menches of the cadets' participation in the Firefighter Challenge. Preparing for the Challenge has been integrated into the Academy's physical fitness program by Lisa Watts-Madolora, a marathon and triathlon runner. She has been designing the cadets' workout program over the last two semesters.

"Our goal this year is to compete, have all six members finish, and to improve from our time last year," said Menches.

"We're competing against firefighters from all over the state, and we're also competing with the Oak Hill Fire Academy," said Menches. Many fire departments use this competition to prepare for the national fire challenge held in Las Vegas in November.

The ACC cadets who competed in last year's Firefighter Challenge had never participated or practiced for the event which consists of five stages meant to test skills and physical fitness. The stages involve running up and down a four story tower, hoisting a bundle of hose up the four story tower, dragging a 75 foot hose, moving a 160 pound steel beam a distance of five feet, and finally dragging a 165 pound Rescue Randy mannequin a distance of 75 feet.

Menches met with his six man team to begin a series of special practices a week before the event. The cadets this year hope to be better prepared than last year.

"I want to win!" said Cadet Andrew Marsh. Beating the Oak Hill Fire Academy was one of the cadets' goals for this year, but they also recognize the positive effect the event could have on their future careers.

"As far as networking and meeting people, meeting real firefighters," said Cadet Jacob McBride, "that's what I think is going to be the most important thing."

Editor's note: "Chair of the Fire Protection Technology Department" was added and "house" was changed to "hose".