City of Sugar Land


As seen in the January 2004 issue of Texas Town & City

The development of a vibrant, thriving community must include a dynamic mix of services that together create an environment where people want to live and work.  Each service plays an important role, but certain core services like public safety are indispensable in the success of a community.  Few would argue that if they don’t feel safe, families and businesses will move elsewhere.  An effective public safety program starts with the men and women on the front lines; they’re the first-responders who have an immediate impact, often times the difference between life and death or the loss of property. 

As these public servants critically impact the health and welfare of a community, it is important to fill their ranks with qualified personnel.  The challenge is to attract and retain the best and brightest. The problem is these individuals are actively sought, especially daunting for smaller cities neighboring large metropolitan areas.  Sugar Land has found a new opportunity: a cooperative partnership with a local institution.

A Public Partnership

The Sugar Land Fire Academy is the result of a partnership between Wharton County Junior College and the Sugar Land Fire Department (SLFD).  Students enrolled in the academy receive instruction leading to full certification as firefighters in the state of Texas.

Sugar Land’s commitment to the academy includes training space at facilities throughout the City, including the fire department’s training room, the Sugar Land Community Center and other City facilities.  SLFD also provides fire apparatus, such as ladders, a variety of hand tools, hose and station facilities.  Sugar Land firefighters serve as instructors on a contract basis, while the community college registers students and provides administrative oversight.  Having SLFD's name on the fire academy has resulted in higher participation than Wharton would have received otherwise – classes average approximately 25 students.

There are several fire academies in the area – San Jacinto College, College of the Midland, Houston Community College and the Houston Fire Department (HFD) Training Academy – but the partnership responsible for the Sugar Land Fire Academy is unique.  Not only does the academy enable Sugar Land to tap a local resource, it also provides students an opportunity to see what the fire service is really like before making a career choice.  Students are exposed to the most up-to-date equipment and rules under the guidance of veteran active-duty firefighters.

Why Was the Academy Created?

Many small communities hire from a pool of candidates derived from recent graduates of area fire academies.  Because many of these candidates are drawn to larger departments, smaller cities can wind up with second-tier candidates.

Sugar Land is a city of 65,000 located southwest of Houston and competes against not only the Houston Fire Department, but also many smaller communities for qualified candidates to fill its growing ranks.  Census figures show that Sugar Land is the state’s fastest growing city when compared with Texas' 45 largest cities, a sign that Sugar Land has created an environment where families feel safe to live, work and play.  Public safety recruitment continues to be a key component of ensuring that Sugar Land meets its goal of being the “Safest City in the Area.”  In order to maintain the high level of services that citizens have come to expect, Sugar Land opened its fifth fire station in 2001, with a sixth scheduled to open in 2003.  Each station is staffed with four firefighters 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

With an eye toward the future, an agreement to create the Sugar Land Fire Academy was negotiated in the summer of 2000.  In addition to meeting the City’s needs, the academy provides a local alternative for individuals in the Sugar Land area considering a career in firefighting.  Since the academy’s inaugural class of 12 students in August 2000, enrollment has soared to two classes that total more than 40 students each semester. 

Sugar Land’s investment in the program has already returned significant dividends, including the following:

  • As one of Texas’ fastest-growing cities, Sugar Land continues to recruit qualified public safety professionals to ensure that services are provided in a timely and expert manner.  The academy provides SLFD a "first look" at potential hires to fill the ranks of the City’s growing fire department.

  • Because the academy is staffed with current Sugar Land firefighters, students receive more than instruction in firefighting best-practices.  They also receive indoctrination into the core values of SLFD:  customer service, out-of-the-box thinking and teamwork.

  • The benefit to students is obvious: their instruction is based on knowledge and expertise derived from industry-specific experiences of on-the-job professionals.  But there are also advantages for firefighters serving as teachers.  In addition to the satisfaction derived from shaping the future of young firefighters, the instructor’s role provides a way to sharpen and hone skills, making the firefighter-teachers better at their jobs.

Sugar Land’s formula has been successful, as word of mouth continues to draw students from far and wide.  According to applicants, the discipline and physical fitness stressed by the academy is a large factor in their selection of the Sugar Land Fire Academy.

Classroom activities focus on hands-on rescue and suppression activities.  Field training includes physical fitness; intensive self-contained breathing apparatus orientation; and specific techniques for the rescue of firefighters that may become disorientated, lost or injured during fire activities.  As part of the curriculum, students participate in SLFD’s prevention activities, a program that includes smoke detector installation, building inspections and public education presentations.

An Impact on Quality of Life

Since the inception of the program, SLFD has recruited from the academy’s cream of the crop. In fact, during the last two hiring cycles, one-third of SLFD’s new hires were graduates of the Sugar Land Fire Academy.  Sugar Land’s fire chief adamantly believes that participation in the academy has resulted in higher quality entry-level firefighters who have already embraced the department’s vision and mission.  This naturally translates into better service for the Sugar Land community.

Entrance Requirements to academy include:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.

  • Successfully complete all entry tests and forms

  • Pass a Physical and Drug Exam.

  • Not have been convicted of any felony offense at any time.

  • Not have been convicted of an offense above a class C misdemeanor within the last year.

  • Be a high school graduate or have passed the GED test.

Learning objectives in the curriculum meet the objectives of National Fire Protection Association 1001: Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.  In addition, the academy is licensed and certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Personnel Standards and Education. Students completing the 608-hour program receive 26 college credit hours for seven courses:  Fire Certification I through VII.  These topic areas and hours have been approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, and upon successful completion, graduates are eligible to take the state licensing examination to become a certified firefighter in Texas.

Academy graduates are expected to possess the skills necessary to work safely during emergencies, such as structure fires, rescue scenes and hazardous material situations.

Conclusion

Through the proactive efforts that resulted in the academy, Sugar Land is now able to “grow its own,” shaping potential future employees and instilling the unique characteristics needed to serve the citizens of Sugar Land. 

Many larger fire departments offer recruit training after an individual has been hired.  An added benefit of the co-op strategy is that SLFD is able to avoid the cost of salaries and benefits while students attend the academy; more importantly, though, supervisors and firefighters witness potential employees before they are hired.  Non-SLFD academy hires typically require four weeks of orientation that involves learning Sugar Land’s operational standards at emergency scenes. When trained through the academy, SLFD is guaranteed new firefighters trained by national standards, as well as Sugar Land’s operational standards.  Graduates of Sugar Land’s program require as little as one week for orientation. 

The relationship between Sugar Land and Wharton County Junior College will continue to grow in the future, with the academy molding future firefighters to meet the needs of the City’s future.

 

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