SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Union Fire District of South Kingstown Fire Chief Steven Pinch is pleased to share that the department is offering firefighting career and tech course for South Kingstown High School students for the 2024-25 school year.

The yearlong course, which meets every other day during school hours, teaches students real-life firefighting skills that will prepare them for future careers in the fire service.

Students will graduate with certifications that will be invaluable for a future career in fire services, including CPR/AED, first aid, Stop the Bleed, and three FEMA Emergency Management incident command certifications.

The course is led by Chief Pinch, with help from the entire Union Fire District.

The free course, which began in September, has enrolled 17 juniors and seniors. Class time is divided between classroom instruction during the school day and practicing drills offsite at Union Fire District’s training facility on Wednesday nights and Sundays.

The course outlines key takeaways from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 Firefighter I course, serving as a primer on topics such as structural search and rescue, overhaul and property conservation, hose operation, and structural collapse response.

The course is entirely funded by the Union Fire District of South Kingstown, which received $684,000 from a four-year FEMA recruitment and retention grant to help cover the program’s costs.

Students received two full sets of firefighter personal protective equipment, including turnout gear and air packs, for use at South Kingstown High School and their assigned Union Fire District Station. A van was also recently purchased to transport students to the training facility during the school day.

In addition to practicing drills at the Union Fire District’s burn building and training tower, students will have the opportunity to respond to real calls in the community later in the year.

“This course has been almost three years in the making, and I’m beyond pleased that this opportunity can be offered to young men and women who want to get a head start in their careers,” Chief Pinch said. “I extend my deepest gratitude to the South Kingstown School District for their support for this program, FEMA for its generous grant, and the Union Fire District for its efforts to help our young prospective firefighters learn essential skills. The professionalism of these students is remarkable, and I look forward to seeing them progress as firefighters.”

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