Mentor Fire EMT Academy offers area youth pathway to fulfilling careers.
The decline in the number of new applicants seeking positions in police departments across the nation has been well documented but it would surprise many to learn that fire departments are experiencing a labor shortage as well.
As little as ten years ago, a full-time firefighter position would have attracted hundreds of candidates. Today, it may only attract a few dozen.
The city of Mentor is considered by many to be among the most attractive places to work in Ohio – and that is no accident – Mentor Fire and Police are among the best-trained and best-equipped in the region, but they know that they have to stay ahead of the curve to ensure that public safety remains Mentor’s top priority.
Mentor Fire Chief Robert Searles recognized the need for a recruitment/retention program after reviewing a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study which indicated a decline in the number of people enrolling in Firefighter/EMT coursework. With the support of city council and administration, the department partnered with Mentor Schools in 2020 to develop a program to recruit the next generation of safety forces. It helps interested students save time and money and guides them into a career path that is both challenging and rewarding.
The Mentor Fire EMT Academy combines classroom and laboratory activities to provide students with a foundation in a career as a firefighter, EMT, or EMS dispatcher. The one-year program is available to seniors through the Lake Shore Compact, a career technical consortium serving the Mentor, Euclid, and Wickliffe school systems, whose primary objective is to prepare students to enter a four-year college, a two-year technical school, or a career of their choosing. The consortium currently offers 24 programs including the Mentor Fire Academy.
“We are always extremely grateful to have the support from city council, the city manager, and the residents of Mentor. Without their backing this would not have been possible,” says Searles, “We also are thankful to have a great school district to partner with.”
Upon the successful completion of the academy, students are eligible to sit for Ohio certification testing as an Emergency Medical Technician – an important first step. In order to work part-time for the Mentor Fire Department, they are required to pass a national registry and complete fire school through one of several local community colleges. In order to be hired full-time, students must obtain their Paramedic certification, which takes about another year.
The academy’s inaugural class graduated in June 2022 and one student is already engaged in new-hire training with the Mentor Fire Department.
“Forward thinking partnerships like these enhance the high-level of public safety that our residents demand,” says Mentor City Manager Kenneth J. Filipiak, “They also further strengthen our community by encouraging our youth to consider a career in public service right here at home.”
Mentor recognizes the importance of fostering attractive career opportunities as well as retaining talent right here in our community. The Mentor Fire EMT Academy is an ideal example of how to accomplish that goal.
“Some of our best firefighters are Mentor graduates,” adds Searles, “We look forward to continuing that tradition well into the future.”
Learn more about the Mentor Fire EMT Academy at www.lakeshorecompact.org.