Fairdale High School in Fairdale, KY is making waves by training the next cohort of fire fighters and EMTs.
During a recent ceremony held at the school, Dan Shirley, an instructor at the school’s Fire and EMS Academy, announced the acquisition of the school’s new Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) license allowing students to undergo testing before graduation.
“The CPAT is crucial for students aspiring to pursue a career in the fire service,” said Shirley. “Having the opportunity to prepare for the test from the moment they enter the program until their senior year provides them with a significant advantage.”
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) CPAT Coordinator Bill Bussing said the school is the first high school in the U.S. to receive the license.
Shirley says the 34-year-old school has seen significant success, with all three students who recently took the CPAT test passing the exam. On average, the academy graduates 20 students annually. “The need for fire fighters and EMTs to join the workforce is at a critical stage in our local community,” said Shirley.
Natalie Taylor, President of Jefferson County, KY Local 3972, praised the program as a proactive step to help alleviate ongoing staffing issues in the fire service. “We are facing staffing shortages in Jefferson County, with many of our fire fighters, EMTS, and paramedics starting to become burnt out,” she said.
Having this CPAT program at an already established fire science program like that at Fairdale H.S. will ignite excitement and interest in our next generation of fire fighters.
Natalie Taylor,
President of Jefferson County, KY Local 3972
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill, who previously served as an 8th District Field Service Representative and Louisville, KY Local 54 president, says he has seen a decline in qualified applicants throughout the last two decades of his career.
“Initially, there were 3,000 applicants for 30 positions back then. Now, as chief, we are recruiting 40 positions and have nearly 600 applicants. However, many drop out due to several reasons, including qualification issues, reducing the pool further,” he said. “Some of the seniors that will be graduating the program this year, we will be opening up our hiring process in the late spring, and certainly that is going to help them on their resume.”
According to projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for fire fighters is expected to grow by 4 percent between 2022 and 2032, driven by the need to replace workers who transfer to different careers or retire.
To meet this demand, O’Neill stressed the importance of engaging diverse populations and expanding fire science programs in schools. “When recruiting the next generation of fire fighters, we must engage diverse populations who may not have considered the fire service or been around it while growing up,” he said.
In addition to the CPAT license, the school received a generous donation from the Louisville Fire Department—a second fire apparatus. “We donated an old pumper truck so they would have that apparatus,” said O’Neill. “It is great because you have an opportunity for these students to learn what it truly means to be a fire fighter, what it involves, what it takes physically and mentally, and how to use the equipment.”
While initiatives like Fairdale High School’s Fire and EMS Academy are crucial for cultivating future fire fighters and EMTs, those recruiting say the need for sustained collaboration and more resources are essential to addressing long-term staffing challenges effectively.
“Continuing to improve upon and develop the current programs offered through Jefferson County Public Schools through collaboration with the local IAFF Local, local fire districts, and state resources is needed if we are going to address the issue of staffing our fire service in the future,” said Taylor. “The priority should be collaboration to resolve the issues while improving the relationships amongst those who have a vested interest in the success of our Kentucky fire service.”
