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AGE OF 18. WELL, RIGHT NOW IT IS NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER APPRECIATION MONTH, AND THIS SUMMER THERE’S BEEN SOMETHING NEW HAPPENING WITHIN THE ANKENY FIRE DEPARTMENT. ����vlog’S OLIVIA TYLER GOT A CLOSE UP LOOK AT THE CITY’S NEW ACADEMY. ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, JUST ACROSS FROM A CORNFIELD. YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE A FARM, BUT NOT OFF I-35 IN ANKENY. HERE YOU’LL FIND A FIRE ACADEMY, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR THE CITY. AND IT’S NOT JUST TRAINING FIREFIGHTERS, IT’S TRANSFORMING CAREERS. SAWING, TWISTING AND PULLING FOR ONE ANKENY RECRUIT, THOUGH THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FEELS FAMILIAR BECAUSE HE’S NO STRANGER TO THE CLASSROOM. I TAUGHT FOR FIVE YEARS WITH ANKENY SCHOOLS. THAT WAS BEFORE HE DECIDED TO TRADE LESSON PLANS FOR FIRE PLANS. PART OF THE CLASSES THAT I TAUGHT WAS CAREER EXPLORATION DEVELOPMENT BASED, SO I WAS ALWAYS TAKING STUDENTS OUT TO EXPLORE CAREERS, GET CURIOUS ABOUT THINGS, MEET PROFESSIONALS, HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT, AND IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS, I LANDED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STARTED HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHIEF AND GOT REALLY CURIOUS. CURIOUS ENOUGH TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER WITH ANKENY’S FIRST EVER FIRE ACADEMY. THE CITY LAUNCHED THE ACADEMY BACK IN AUGUST WITH 23 NEW FIREFIGHTING RECRUITS. WE DECIDED TO DO OUR OWN INTERNAL FIRE ACADEMY AND EMS ACADEMY. PREVIOUSLY, OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD JUST BE ASSIGNED TO A FIRE STATION, HAVE A CHECKLIST, AND JUST WORK WITH THE CREWS AT THE STATION. BUT NOW THROUGH THE FIRE ACADEMY. AFTER THAT 14 WEEKS, THEY’LL BE ASSIGNED TO A FIRE STATION. THE RECRUITS ARE GETTING REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE. THE CITY OF ANKENY DOES NOT HAVE A DEDICATED TRAINING FACILITY. THANKS TO THIS DONATED PROPERTY, THEY GET MORE REALISTIC TRAINING, WORKING WITH REAL ROOMS AND KITCHEN CABINETS. YOU KNOW, FURNITURE THAT’S IN THE BUILDING AND BE ABLE TO TO DO SKILLS THAT ARE THAT THEY’LL SEE EVERY DAY. SO THEY’LL BE SMOKE LIKE FIRE SUPPRESSION, RESCUE OPERATIONS AND PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. WE ARE LESSENED. OUR ENTRY REQUIREMENTS JUST TO EMT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS STRUGGLING TO HIRE, BUT THE ACADEMY ALLOWS THEM TO TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, LEARN EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE JOB, AND HELPS ATTRACT PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN WHO SAY, IT’S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. IT’S BEEN AN ENJOYABLE CAREER TO CHECK OUT BECAUSE FOR THE FORMER TEACHER, THE BEST LESSONS ARE THOSE WITH A HANDS ON APPROACH. BEING ABLE TO USE A BUILDING SUCH AS THIS FOR ACTUAL DRILLS MAKES IT A LOT MORE LIFELIKE, SO WE CAN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AS WE GET TO A FIRE SCENARIO WITH REAL SITUATIONS ON THE JOB. IN ANKENY, OLIVI