Hattiesburg Fire Training Academy recruit class nears graduation

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - 11 recruits at the Hattiesburg Fire Training Academy continue their training with a nighttime exercise ahead of graduation.

“These are actual skills that they’re going to have to prove that they can do for the state fire academy to issue them a certification,” Capt. Jourdan Arnold, assistant director of training, said.

Thursday, for the first time, families were invited to see the recruits put their skills to the test after weeks of training.

“I can’t put into words how much it means that my wife and baby girl is here and my parents are here,” Recruit Justin Davis said. “They’re seeing me do something that none of us really ever dreamed I’d be doing. And it’s a great feeling.”

The 13-week academy covers hazardous materials, search and rescue and basic firefighting.

Arnold also spoke about the academy.

“Some of it’s pretty advanced, some of it’s really basic, but they graduate the academy; it takes 13 weeks, and they are ready to get on a fire truck the next day. Some of them will do that, and they’re ready to fight fire,” Arnold said.

After months of learning and putting those skills into practice, the recruits say they’re ready for what comes next.

“I just can’t say enough good things about how they’ve structured the academy and making sure that we’re fully prepared before we go online, before we go onto our trucks. We’re all ready. We’re ready. After this week, we’ve got two weeks left, and all of us are raring to get on a truck,” Davis said.

The recruits are set to graduate the week of Thanksgiving. Fire leaders say the class has one of the highest grade averages they have seen.