It was an inter-foundation love fest at Firehouse Subs in Yucca Valley yesterday as the Copper Mountain College Foundation received a hefty donation from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to help locals become firefighters. Reporter Heather Clisby was there …
Though smoke from Northern California fires brought an unwelcome haze, the mood inside the Yucca Valley Firehouse Subs was brighter. Thanks to a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the Copper Mountain College Foundation (CMCF) officially received over $17,000 in support of their fire training program.
Copper Mountain College Foundation Executive Director Sandy Smith stated that Shinder Singh, franchisee/owner of Firehouse Subs in Yucca Valley, initially encouraged CMCF to apply for the grant to support the school’s Fire Technology program. An application was submitted hoping the funds would apply to the CMC’s Wildland Fire Academy which began last semester. The eight-week no-credit/no-tuition program has trained 30 students thus far.
The grant funds have purchased training supplies such as drip torches, hose appliances, tools, emergency medical gear, backpacks, water pumps, fire hoses, and 15-20 chainsaws.
“Through the generosity of this grant and the support from Firehouse Subs, we were able to develop the Wildland Fire Academy. I would love to have some former students here to speak to you right now, but they are all working on the fire line. We’re in the middle of class number two, and it’s been a huge success,” said Chief James Brakebill, one of CMC’s full-time instructors in the Fire Technology Program. “It makes me feel good to be able to put local people to work in a career field that is needed right now. We’re running back-to-back classes to get these people employed.”
Smith said the students who complete the program become eligible for employment with the US Forest Service upon completion, no need to take any other classes before or after.
The CMC grant is part of more than $60 million given by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to public safety organizations nation-wide.
