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Livonia Fire Department one step closer to sponsoring high school fire cadets
Oct 07, 2020

Fire departments don't get the recruits they used to. To boost their workforce, the Livonia Fire Department is sponsoring high school students to dual-enroll at Schoolcraft College and become cadets with the department. 

“We’ve been pretty low on our staffing for many years," Sr. Captain Robert Jennison, the department's training officer, said. "There isn’t as many people going into the fire service and EMS as there were in the past.”

Schoolcraft's dual enrollment program has been around for three years, and the college already partners with fire services in Westland, Romulus and Van Buren. Liam Carroll, the fire technology program director at Schoolcraft, said the program allows cadets, all under 18, to get a head start on a career. Depending on age, students can leave the program with as many as 40 credit hours and an EMT license. 

“Local fire departments are trying to hire these students," Carroll said. "So, they essentially get their foot in the door while they’re in high school. We’ve had a number of them that their sponsoring fire department offered them jobs before they’re technically out of high school. They can come out of high school and start a career.”

At a council meeting on Monday the fire department received all necessary city approval, but still needs state consideration. Jennison said the department could start sponsoring cadets, 16- and 17-year-olds from the Livonia and Clarenceville districts, as early as January. 

The two school districts will pick up the bill for enrollees' tuition, and Jennison hopes Livonia Fire will be able to provide things like uniforms and turnout gear as available. Students who choose the program will take courses on nights and weekends. 

“It’s like a football or a sports schedule where they have a couple nights of practice each week and then a game day that takes up one of their days on the weekend," Carroll explained. "That works for the high school students because it doesn’t conflict with their classes.”

With enough hard work, Carroll said students can hope for a job offer or letter of recommendation from the department when they graduate. 

“These departments are using this as a hiring tool," he said. "They get a chance to see these students while they’re in the cadet program, see if they’re a right fit for their department.”

Contact reporter Shelby Tankersley at stankersle@hometownlife.com or 248-305-0448. Follow her on Twitter @shelby_tankk

https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/livonia/2020/10/07/livonia-approves-fire-department-cadet-program-schoolcraft-college/3629994001/


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IAFF Local 1164
14910 Farmington Rd.
Livonia, MI 48154
  7344662444

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