Over the past year, Waubonsee Community College’s Fire Science Program has undergone a variety of improvements, due in large part to the support of local departments. The most recent example centers on the Oswego Fire Department’s new training facility on Galena Road in Montgomery.
Thanks to an agreement between the department and the college, Waubonsee fire science students will be able to participate in live fire training exercises at the facility, which officially opens on Friday, April 17, with a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.
“We’re grateful to the Oswego Fire Department for this opportunity, which we feel will really round out the experience of our fire science students,” said Michelle Evans, Assistant Dean for Health Professions and Public Service at Waubonsee. “All of the local departments have been very supportive of our program and instrumental in improving and expanding learning opportunities for our students.”
While Oswego’s facility will serve as the college’s exclusive live fire training site, several area departments host fire science courses, including Montgomery and Sandwich. A few times a year, Waubonsee hosts Fire Science Business Advisory Committee meetings to solicit expert input and ensure its curriculum is keeping up with industry trends and demands. Participants in those meetings include representatives from the Oswego Fire Protection District, Montgomery and Countryside Fire Protection District, Aurora Fire Department, Sandwich Community Fire Protection District, Sugar Grove Fire Department, Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District, North Aurora Fire Department, Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District, and Westchester Fire Department.
For more information on Waubonsee’s fire science program, visit www.waubonsee.edu/fire or call the college’s Health Professions and Public Service Division at (630) 466-2350.
