HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Sen. John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center (PSC) at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, celebrated the graduation of eight cadets in its 53rd Fire Academy on June 15, 2015.
 
The 53rd HACC Fire Academy was comprised of eight cadets from the Altoona, Lancaster, Hanover and Harrisburg fire departments. These cadets were hired by their respective fire departments and reported to HACC to complete 14 weeks of basic training.
 
The graduates who completed HACC’s most recent fire academy training, and the fire departments where they serve, are as follows:

• Alex Carcamo  – Lancaster Bureau of Fire
• Thomas Cucchiara – Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
• Randall Katich – Altoona Fire Department
• Pablo Passalacqua – Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
• Kyle Paul – Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
• Michael Shaak, Jr. – Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
• Timothy Tyler – Hanover Fire Department
• Edward Weiler  – Lancaster Bureau of Fire

At the graduation on June 15, Victor Rodgers, associate provost of HACC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division, provided a College welcome and Timothy Solobay, Pennsylvania state fire commissioner, addressed the audience and graduates.
 
The HACC Fire Academy provides theory and practical application of fire fighter skills that exceed the instructional objectives of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 Fire Fighter I and II training standards.  The instructional content of the HACC Fire Academy includes classroom and practical training in fire fighting operations; hazardous materials, targeting NFPA 472 and 29 CFR 1910.120 Operations-level competencies; NFPA 1500 standard; physical development; Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); vehicle rescue operations; and technical rescue awareness level training. 
 
The academy is operated under a semi-military environment with strict guidelines established for cadets’ behavior, attitude and interaction. Cadets are required to assume in-class leadership roles during the academy and are exposed to daily and weekly academic testing, as well as to rigorous physical exercise and development.
 
HACC has conducted an average of two fire academies each year since 1989, graduating almost 300 career firefighters. It is the only open enrollment career fire academy in Pennsylvania.
 
Visit hacc.edu/fire for more information about the HACC Fire Academy.
 
 
About HACC
 
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, offers more than 150 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to nearly 20,000 students at campuses in Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York and through virtual learning. In addition, HACC serves more than 29,000 students in noncredit workforce development, public safety, adult basic education and continuing education programs offered at all campuses and off-site locations in many communities in Central Pennsylvania. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.