Future Fire Fighters Train Early in Phoenix

January 30, 2007 – High school students interested in a career in fire fighting or law enforcement are training early thanks to a magnet program in Phoenix, Arizona. Working with the state department of education, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon created the school to train future fire fighters and police officers.

Phoenix Local 493 member Scott Crowley served on the committee to develop and implement the program. “Mayor Gordon’s son was tutored by fire fighters when he was in school,” says Crowley, communications director for Phoenix Local 493. “That positive experience prompted Mayor Gordon to become involved with public safety education.”

A construction bond of $5.4 million was approved by voters in 2003 to renovate the vacant Ben Franklin Elementary School. After renovations are complete in August 2007, the school will reopen as Franklin Police and Fire High school.

Meanwhile, the program is housed at Metro Tech High, but is only open to juniors and seniors. The new school will be open to freshmen and sophomores as well.

Additionally, the high school is dually accredited with Phoenix College’s Fire Science program. Therefore, students receive both high school and college credit at the same time.

Students who complete classes at the high school who wish to become fire fighters must still attend their chosen fire department’s fire academy per the Arizona State Fire Marshal’s office.

Franklin Police and Fire High School will stretch across 12 acres, with approximately 29,000 square feet of interior space that includes crime labs, a communications room, community space for officers and fire fighters, a teaching kitchen, a station house for school-owned police and fire vehicles, an obstacle course and workout room.