PINE GROVE MILLS -- Jumping into the line of fire may be in the future for some State High students who recently completed a three-week basic wildland fire certification course.
As part of their final task toward achieving certification, 17 State High students, all enrolled in the school's ag science and public-safety programs, hacked away at the ground one afternoon last week, creating a fire break.
They cleared the earthy carpet of anything flammable, creating a line that, in case of a wild fire, would act as an extinguisher, said Paul Heasley, who teaches a forestry class as part of State College's ag science program.
The certification course is a gateway into a career as a firefighter, if a student chooses that path, Dave Hamilton, public-safety teacher said.
Hamilton, who doubles as the public information officer for the Alpha Fire Company, is also a 22-year veteran of fighting fires.
As part of the certification course, students needed to complete 10 in-house hours and four hours of in-field training in order to earn half a credit. The course is offered every other year, and this is the second time it has been offered.
"It's a lot more exciting than regular school work," said 11th-grader Joe Reese. "I like being outdoors and getting my hands dirty."
In addition to the line, the students dug a two-foot cup trench, constructed a small water bar and learned to use two-way radios.
"The biggest thing they learn is how to work as a team," Hamilton said.
The skills they learned also may prove handy one day, Heasley said. "If we had an emergency in the community, we would have more people able to help."
Distributed by the Associated Press
