YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE REQUIRES ITS FIRE ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS TO ATTEND CREDENTIALING CLASSES HELD AT THE VERDE VALLEY FIRE TRAINING CENTER IN COTTONWOOD

No further information provided the public since last May’s statement by Dr. Rhine regarding the possible return of fire science program to Verde Valley Campus that was moved to Prescott over a year ago if instructors and students could be found—Could this be a first step in returning program to the Verde Valley Campus?

In an October 4, 2023,  posting by Mr. Robert Borker, Yavapai Community College’s Director of Fire Science, it was announced that in cooperation with the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and the Yavapai Community College Fire Science division, fire service professionals from around the State recently attended Live Fire Instructor credentialing classes held at the Verde Valley Fire Training Center in Cottonwood.

Copyright © Robert E. Oliphant

Mr. Boker explained that the “Fire Fixed Facility Instructor Credential Program is a unique blend of distance learning and an intense three-day hands-on academy. The course focuses on the responsibilities of instructors charged with important safety duties as live fire instructors.”

He said that the course is “based on the NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training. Students completed an extensive on-line course prior to the hands-on live fire portion. They were challenged by a series of written and practical examinations to earn this three-year credential. Yavapai College is leading the industry by requiring our fire academy instructors to attend this course keeping with industry best practices.”

You may recall that back in May 2023, Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine was asked about the reason for closing down the Fire Science training program on the Verde Campus more than a year ago.  She said that the program once alternated between the Verde Campus and Prescott.  However, over the past several years there has been a decline in student enrollment in the Verde Valley and a decrease in qualified instructors for the program. Therefore, the program was permanently moved to Prescott.

Dr. Rhine also said that Director Borker was aware of the issue and was working with all the fire chiefs and advisory boards to try and return the  fire science back to the Verde Campus.   She said that if the Verde Valley Campus can produce 15 students and five qualified instructors who live in the Verde Valley, it will be returned.

It is not clear whether the Community College has yet found the students or qualified instructors to return the program to the Verde Valley Campus. The College has not issued any further public update to the statement made by Dr. Rhine in May. But is it possible this training course at the Verde Valley Fire Training Center is a good first step?