Applications are now being accepted for the award-winning Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Citizens Fire Academy. Over the past 17 years, more than 500 Las Vegas valley residents have completed the academy.
The Citizens Fire Academy first began in the year 2000 with 50 participants. The program is designed to teach interested people about the workings of the fire and emergency services in their community. Various speakers from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and support organizations such as the Trauma Intervention Program and College of Southern Nevada will give insight on how the organizations operate and how residents can get involved and help their community.
In the summer of 2005, the program became part of the U.S. Fire Corps program. The U.S. Fire Corps is a locally-driven Citizen Corps program that allows community members to offer their time and talents to their local fire departments.
The Citizens Fire Academy will meet once each week on Thursday evenings for three hours beginning March 1, 2018. A graduation ceremony will be held for those who complete the academy on May 4.
Applications for the academy are available online at www.lasvegasfire.org or at Fire Headquarters downtown. The application can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed back to fire officials. There is no cost for the program.
Applications will be accepted from now until Feb. 2, and applicants will be notified by mail if they are accepted by Feb. 16. The academy will be limited to 20 participants.
The Citizens Fire Academy has received two national fire service awards since its beginning.
More information is available on the Citizens Fire Academy Hotline at (702) 229-0146.
