Edison’s Investment in Fire Students Is an Investment in Southern California’s Future

The public utility company Southern California Edison (SCE) has long been a supporter of Mt. SAC’s STEM students, and recently the company has expanded its support to include the College’s Fire Program. “We need qualified and well-trained fire service professionals, and dedicated students should not have to turn down acceptance into a Fire Academy because they cannot afford the training materials and equipment,” explains Lisa Woon, SCE principal manager for Corporate Philanthropy.

The need of the fire students mirrors the need of Mt. SAC’s student body at large, over 75 percent of whom are underserved in some way. What makes the fire students unique is that the structure of the 16-week fire academy makes it nearly impossible for students to hold jobs while they are doing it. The academy isn’t just demanding on students’ time; it is also physically and mentally exhausting. Therefore, Fire Chief Ray Mosack strongly encourages students to devote all their time to the academy so that they can be successful. He understands the predicament of need, though, and knows that SCE’s scholarships are making a big difference. It is not uncommon for a student to qualify for the academy but be unable to attend because of the financial commitment, and Mosack has countless stories of students who make tough decisions and sacrifices for the fire academy.

Because a fire department is a semi-military organization, the fire academy functions much like a boot camp. About 30 students enter the fire academy each semester. They take a total of 23 written and 26 manipulative exams. The academy takes place every day Monday through Friday, beginning with physical fitness at 4:45 a.m. Because the academy uses a facility borrowed from the Chino Fire Department, students are responsible for cleaning up at the end of each day, which often extends the day past 5:00 p.m. 

The benefit of a fire academy like Mt. SAC’s is that although different fire departments have different requirements, Mt. SAC fire academy students graduate with 12 certifications, making them well-qualified for any fire department. “We invest in fire technology programs at selected community colleges across Edison’s service area because our partners, like Mt. SAC, are best equipped with the knowledge and expertise to make a positive, direct impact in these students’ education,” says Woon. For the most recent academy, SCE provided five full tuition scholarships.

Well-staffed and well-trained fire departments are more important than ever. Mt. SAC’s Fire Program and ones like it are instrumental in keeping qualified candidates in the pipeline. Woon confirms SCE’s commitment to that pipeline: “We recognize that areas at risk for wildfire are expanding across the state, and we remain committed to supporting our nonprofit partners that are helping address the needs of our communities and strengthening our region’s disaster response capacity.”