Demopolis Fire/Rescue leads state with Apprenticeship Program

Demopolis leads the state by becoming the first city to be approved for the Firefighter/EMT Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Officially recognized on Thursday, Jan. 28, Demopolis Fire and Rescue already had signed up four recruits to be the charter class.

Interim Fire Chief Talmus Williams said the apprenticeship program was established in 2019 by the Alabama Department of Commerce, but Demopolis was the first to apply. The department will fund 50 percent of the apprentices’ salaries while they are in training.

The Demopolis department is tailoring its program to fit the needs of the community, but it first had to be meet certain standards and be approved by the Alabama Employment Office, said Williams. Each recruit is expected to undergo 480 hours of training under the direction of Training Officer Capt. Alex Morris.

Williams said the recruits must complete the nine-week training at the Alabama Fire College and become a certified firefighter before undergoing the rigorous apprenticeship instruction. He said the local training will involve 25-40 hours each week, both in the classroom and hands-on experience.

Previous Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Murray spearheaded the start of the program. When he was not reappointed, Williams completed the application process.

The department applied to the Alabama Employment Office, although the program is funded through the state Department of Commerce.

The training can be set up for both new recruits and as continuing education for current fire and rescue personnel, Williams continued, but initially it will be only for those that are newly hired.

The local training enhances the instruction recruits receive at the Fire College, Morris said. It will break down the Fire College curricula section by section to hone the firefighters’ skills.

Recruits are certified in several areas of focus, including driver/operator and Haz-Mat tech. Combined with the Fire College, a recruit undergoes 6,000 hours of training to complete the apprenticeship program.

As part of the training, Morris continued, each firefighter will become proficient enough to teach others. “I want our guys to be expert on that subject matter,” he said.