This October, Pueblo Community College Southwest will offer a wildland fire academy to teach students about fire mitigation and job opportunities in the field.
The academy is set to take place Oct. 7-11 at PCC’s Mancos campus, 33057 U.S. Highway 160, and is open to potential students 18 years and older.
Scholarship and tuition opportunities are available for students in need of assistance. In addition to earning three college credits and S130 and S190 certifications, attendees will have the opportunity to network with local and regional firefighters to learn more about the career and about potential job opportunities.
In the spring and again in August, PCC held a forestry and wildland fire certificate program that was created to “equip students to begin careers in areas such as logging, forest thinning operations, the forest product/timber industry and more.”
PCC is hoping to offer a two-year degree program in forestry and natural resources in the near future, which Perry Pepper, academic services director at PCC Southwest, told The Journal would go hand in hand with fire mitigation and wildland courses earlier this year.
“This is a well-received and needed program in our region here in the southwest,” Pepper said. “There is a need for a program like this, so we’re excited to be part of it.”
To register, email gozonemancos@pueblocc.edu or call (970) 564-6201. More information about the program can be found by contacting Pepper at perry.pepper@pueblocc.edu or through phone at (970) 564-6205.
