El Camino Fire Academy Plans Graduation Ceremony

The El Camino Fire Academy has planned its fall graduation ceremony for Class 134, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. November 2 at:

El Camino Fire Academy

206 West Beach Avenue

Inglewood, CA 90302

 The El Camino Fire Academy graduation ceremony will feature several action-packed demonstrations highlighting student work. Students will show the full scope of their training, from rappelling from a four-story building to controlling a fully involved vehicle fire. Students will also pull up to a full-blown building fire, sirens blaring, and contain the blaze.

An open house is also on the agenda, where visitors can tour the facility.

“This has been outstanding class of recruits,” said Chief William Melendez, training coordinator of the El Camino Fire Academy. “We have a total of 19 certificates to issue to each recruit. Our objective is to help students achieve the highest education and skill possible during his or her time in the Fire Academy.”

 This year 29 recruits successfully completed the rigorous program. In the past five years, more than 530 students have graduated from the El Camino Fire Academy. A large percentage has been hired at different agencies in the South Bay and throughout Southern California.

The El Camino Fire Academy, formerly known as the South Bay Fire Academy, has trained firefighters for service in South Bay fire departments for more than 50 years.

 The Academy's core content meets the highest level of firefighter training. Physical fitness requirements for each recruit are both strenuous and demanding, exceeded only by the high academic standards.

 The Inglewood facility features a 30-seat classroom and an engine room. Three Class A diesel pumpers and a truck company are on hand for student training. The drill grounds include a four-story fire rescue training tower; a fire environment building where students combat live fires; and three Swede System Flashover Training Containers.

 Academy instructors are from the Los Angeles area and represent nearly a dozen professional fire departments. In addition, many instructors are training officers in their own departments.

 Graduates of the El Camino Fire Academy receive California State Fire Marshal Certificates in the following areas: fire control, auto extrication, confined space awareness, and HAZMAT first responder operational. They also receive certification in wild land firefighting, blood borne pathogens, flashover training, and trench rescue awareness.

 For more information about the El Camino Fire Academy, call 310-660-3593, Ext. 6589, or go to  www.elcamino.edu/fire_academy/