Press Release

Metropolitan Education District 760 Hillsdale Ave San Jose, CA 95136 December 11, 2008

Contact: Michelle Alaimo Communication Specialist (408) 723-6464 malaimo@metroed.net

CCOC's Fire Science/First Responder Class trains with CAL FIRE

Central County Occupational Center’s (CCOC’s) Fire Science/First Responder class will train with CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) on Friday, December 12, at Santa Teresa Park in South San Jose as part of CCOC’s CAL FIRE Wild land training. Over the summer, four former CCOC graduates were hired by CAL FIRE to assist with mop-up and other fire service related duties.

Students are in the midst of a 67 hour course taught by CAL FIRE which will certify CCOC students in Wild land firefighting and first responder. Students who are certified by Cal FIRE and are 18 years old will be able to apply for seasonal work with Cal Fire (CDF) helping with forest fires across the state.

At Friday’s training, CAL FIRE Captain Tim Irwin, said that students will learn a number of things including how to construct fire lines, protect structures, and lay hoses. Upon successful completion of the CCOC’s class, students are also certified in First Aid, CPR and to use an AED.

Captain Irwin said the CAL FIRE training and CCOC class is a “win-win” situation because they are able to hire candidates that are local and familiar with the area. “It gives these students a step up,” Irwin said.

CCOC’s Fire Science/First Responder classes are taught by San Jose Fire Captain (Station 16) Oscar Tovar and Retired Fire Inspector Phil Gonzalez and the classes are open to high school juniors and seniors from six high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, San Jose Unified, Milpitas Unified, and the Santa Clara Unified District.

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MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 30,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.