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 What is the Citizen Fire Academy?
The Citizen Fire Academy is a program designed to give participants a working knowledge of the Naperville Fire Department. The program consists of brief classroom discussions, with a primary focus on hands-on exercises. Classes are held once a week from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. for nine weeks. There is one academy a year, usually held in the spring and each one is limited to 20 students. There is no fee for anyone who enrolls.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Citizen Fire Academy is to create a well-informed cross section of the citizens from our community by describing the functions of the Naperville Fire Department. It will acquaint the public through a series of classroom and hands-on courses utilizing the resources and manpower of the Naperville Fire Department. It will expose the very nature of firefighting along with the danger and benefits it holds.
Goals
- To explain the tactics and strategies of firefighting and rescue, along with the dangers and benefits inherent to this type of service.
- To provide insight to the inner workings of the Naperville Fire Department and to better inform the residents of Naperville about the multitude of services which are provided to the community.
 To foster an understanding of the broad spectrum of knowledge, training and skills that are necessary to be a member of the Naperville Fire Department.- To better prepare residents of Naperville to react properly in the event of a fire or medical emergency.
- To encourage Academy participants to return to their organizations, neighborhoods and families to share information which will develop more safety-conscious citizens.
- To provide an interactive forum for both the Fire Department and the citizens to share information and concerns. We have found that education has been most effective in gaining understanding and support from the community.
Through the implementation of the Citizen Fire Academy, the department offers its citizens insights into how firefighters/paramedics perform their duties, as well as how the department serves the community. Individuals who would like to participate in the Academy must be at least 18 years of age.
Those wishing to apply, or just seeking more information about the Citizen Fire Academy should contact Soraya McLaughlin, Public Education Specialist, mclaughlins@naperville.il.us.
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