Clarendon Hall hosts first firefighting course

A new hands-on course is being offered at Clarendon Hall, except it’s not like any of the courses previously offered at the school … it’s about teaching students how to fight fires and save lives. CHS is the first private school in the state to have a firefighting course incorporated into its curriculum.

Students get hands-on training through instructors from the Clarendon County Fire Dept., and complete classroom curricula online through the South Carolina Firefighting Academy.

The idea to start the course was born out of a student who’d wanted to be a volunteer firefighter, but could not find the time to attend courses due to school commitments. This spurred CHS’ Principal, Angie Bruner, a certified firefighter herself, to find a way to incorporate the course into their curriculum, so that students at the school could take the courses.

“I’ve always wanted to take a firefighting course, but had to stop last year due to sports and games being on the same night as thew training,” said Austin Sykes, a senior at Clarendon Hall.

Bruner approached Clarendon County Fire Department Deputy Chief Jonathan Jones, who worked with the Firefighting Academy to get the course certified and have students enrolled.

The course is offered to students aged 16 and older, sophomores through seniors, and students are eligible to receive their firefighter certificatewhen they turn 18. Currently there are 10 boys and five girls enrolled in the inaugural class.

At Clarendon Hall’s open house on Monday, Feb. 13, class participants were practicing putting on firefighting gear in under two minutes, most of the students did it in under 1:30.

Senior Emily Venning said that the program is physically and mentally challenging, but that with encouragement from instructors and other students, they are able to get through it.

“I just want to save lives and help those in need,” she said.

Venning said that she is considering being a full-time firefighter after graduation.

Bruner said that the program has generated a lot of hype from other students, and that they plan on doing the program next year, and in the years to come.

“We’ve been contacted by other schools in the state that are looking to start similar programs,” Bruner said.