UCS students answer the call for future firefighters

What is the best part about being a firefighter?

For Sterling Heights Firefighter Andrew Pham, it being the person who is there when the community needs it most.

“When there is an emergency, who do our residents call? They call us,” Pham said.

It was what tenth grader Dylan Dworkin wanted to hear.

“I am thinking of a career in law enforcement,” he said. “I just like helping people out and I want to keep the community safe.”

More than 140 Utica Community Schools high school students took part in a first of its kind training experience sponsored by the Sterling Heights Fire Department.

The students, who were selected after identifying Fire Sciences as a career interest, took part took in an abbreviated day-long training program, including CPR, tools firefighters use in an emergency, and what was a favorite – racing a firefighter to see who can put on the equipment the fastest.

They also learned the educational path to follow to become a firefighter and the career benefits.

And the benefits are many – an interesting job where every day is different; a competitive salary with good benefits; good work schedules; paid training; a physically active profession; and, most of all, being the person who serves the community during emergencies.

“It just seems like an interesting career and something I would want to learn more about,” 10^th grade Tina McGee said.