Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Chattanooga Fire Department/ Instagram
Published April 15, 2021
Chattanooga, TN – The Chattanooga Fire Department’s new fire academy got underway on Friday, April 9th.
The six-month long training academy features intense training in all of the areas of the fire service, including: EMR, hazmat, rescue operations, firefighting skills, flammable liquids fires, vehicle extrication and fire ground survival.
This year, 29 cadets are participating in the academy.
Addressing the cadets, Executive Deputy Chief Seth Miller said, “You will gain skills to help people on the worst days of their lives and you’ll take that with you forever. This is the best career in the world. Welcome to the family.”
The fire department states that the academy is crucial for our department to help with staffing.
District 1 Chattanooga City Council Member Chip Henderson has stated that the academy, along with fair pay for the firefighters, is critical for recruiting and maintaining talent for the department.
In a news release, the fire department stated, “We appreciate these recruits for their willingness to serve the City of Chattanooga and the citizens! We look forward to a new generation of firefighters protecting our community.”
The Training Division of the Chattanooga Fire Department educates and trains new recruits, as well as seasoned veterans, on emergency response.
All instructors are crossed-trained in various disciplines and each assume a leadership role in coordinating critical aspects of training. This includes recruit fire training, extrication training, hazardous materials training, driver training, officer training, emergency medical training, US&R, monthly station schools, state required in-service training and certification updates.
The CFD staff has also been instrumental in developing training for agencies outside the department.
The division has partnered with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Hamilton County LEPC, Boy Scouts of America, Hamilton County Coalition, M. L. King Weed and Seed program, and local utility companies in the recent past to provide medical, fire and safety training.
The CFD Training division state that they recognize the importance of community partnerships and continuously explore opportunities to address the safety needs of the city.
