Cape May County Fire Academy Alive, Well

To The Editor:
1 am writing this clarification with regard to the Spout Off article in the April 28 edition, and the comments from the editor. The Fire Academy is alive and well. We will continue to grow and graduate many educated fire fighter students in the years that follow.
During April, 2010, a certification class of 24 students for Fire/Police was held at the Fire Academy. An unusual incident occurred. The electric went out during the snowstorm but the dedicated class moved to the Rio Grande Fire Department to finish the day.
Registration was held April 7 for the Junior Fire Fighters. These students are from the age 12-17. The class is still in session and will continue into this month. These students are sent to the fire academy from various fire departments. It is all voluntary, and they really enjoy the class. We also have a separate program for juvenile fire setters. This class is held with the help of the parents.
Rutgers University and Kean University are holding re-certification classes at the academy for inspectors, fire fighters and officers. These classes are on May 12, 13, and 14. They will have approximately 50 students in these classes each day.
The training coordinator retired from the Fire Marshal’s office on Dec. 18, 2009, after over 50 years in the fire service. With a new training program coming from The Division of Fire Safety and new student manuals, it was in the best interest of the students to send them to Atlantic County Fire Academy for the spring semester.
The instructors have been readying their new curriculum for the next Fire Fighter I course that will start at the end of the summer.
ALBERT BEERS
Wildwood Crest
(ED. NOTE: Beers is the Cape May County Marshall.)