Merced College fire academy earns State Fire Training Accreditation

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Merced College is helping to fill the need for firefighters across the country.

Three dozen students started the Spring semester on the path to their new careers.

"We have a large Academy. It's the first time we've had an academy this big," Director of Fire Technology and Fire Academy Programs Donnie Roe said.

He walked the new students through the basic skills they'll need.

This class will graduate ready to begin a firefighting career and now they'll also leave with a "State Fire Training Fire Fighter 1" certification.

That's because Merced College is now officially an Accredited Regional Training Program (ARTP).

That confirms the college's curriculum meets the highest state and national fire service standards.

"Now these students, when they graduate with the ARTP Fire Fighter 1 academy grads, these guys, can not only work, not just here at city or county or even the state of California, but any state in the country. So that -- it's huge, it's opened so many doors and possibilities for them," Roe said.

This is the second cohort that will graduate with the certification.

Andrew Busko was part of the first class to receive it.

He's already seen the benefits as a new firefighter with Cal Fire.

"It did kind of set me apart. My cousin, he came through Merced College's academy when it wasn't accredited. So he got a job with Cal Fire. But then later on in his career, he had to go down the Riverside to get his actual Fire Fighter 1 accreditation," Busko said.

The fire academy has a longstanding partnership with the Merced City Fire Department.

Fire Chief Casey Wilson went through the academy himself in 2004 and has hired multiple firefighters in the past.

"We're really seeing high-quality, well-trained firefighters come out of this program," Wilson said.

He says his agency and others will benefit from the additional certification students will receive.

"So when we hire employees and bring them through our academies to learn how we do business in our department, they really have a really solid skill set that is allowing them to excel, and it's actually saving us training on our end and benefiting the community as a whole," Wilson said.

The program will next recruit for the Spring 2027 cohort.

There are requirements that must be met for admission into the academy. You can find more information by clicking here.

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