Boerne Fire Department Chief Assistant Walter Ball, a SAC Fire Academy alum, speaks at the Fire Academy graduation at Northwest Vista College Dec. 13. Photo by Natalia Edwards.
Dozens of cadets from San Antonio College’s Regional Fire Academy graduated from the 16-week program Dec. 13 during a ceremony at Northwest Vista College. The program prepares students to earn Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certification, a requirement to become a firefighter in Texas.
The college opened its First Responders Academy in 1969, and the academy has become a dominant part of the Alamo Colleges District’s many programs with high graduation and employment rates.
SAC Fire Academy Cadet Stephanie Garcia uses an air chisel to cut open the roof of a car while training on vehicle extraction. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Firefighting gear hangs in a storage area at SAC’s Fire Academy. Photo by Natalia Edwards.A Fire Academy instructor shares state exam results with cadets. Photo by Natalia Edwards.SAC Fire Academy cadets wait to begin a training session on vehicle extraction. Photo by Natalia Edwards.A student uses an ax to break a car windshield away from its frame while training on vehicle extraction. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Fire Academy cadets play football during a Thanksgiving lunch break. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Fire Academy cadets play football while waiting for their lesson on vehicle extraction to begin. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Captain Joe Hernandez, an instructor at SAC’s Fire Academy prepares cadets for their state exams Nov. 25. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Fire Academy cadets complete the extinguishing portion of their State Exams. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Training structures at the Fire Academy support training in extraction and extinguishing. The building on the left gets set on fire, and the students learn how to safely maneuver through it. The red structure on the right is used to teach the students how to extract patients from a roof. Photo by Natalia Edwards.A mock vehicle at the Fire Academy is used to train cadets on extinguishing a vehicle fire. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Frank L. Poyner, director of SAC’s Regional Fire Academy, leads a chant with graduating cadets at the Fire Academy graduation ceremony at Northwest Vista College Dec. 13. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Dr. Cassandra Rincones, vice president for student success at SAC, congratulates a Fire Academy graduate at Northwest Vista College Dec. 13. Photo by Natalia Edwards.Fire Academy graduates embrace at the Fire Academy graduation ceremony at Northwest Vista College Dec. 13. Photo by Natalia Edwards.
SAC opened a new state-of-the-art First Responders Academy facility in Atascosa in December 2023. It is one of the largest first responder academies in Texas, and students receive training in all aspects of basic firefighting skills and hazardous materials through approximately 680 hours of training, according to the academy’s webpage.
The 16-week course, which prepares students to meet Texas’ hiring standards for entry-level firefighters, takes place every fall, spring and summer semester, meeting Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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