MIAMI SHORES, FLA. (WSVN) - The students at Barry University Fire Academy receive training with real emergency vehicles, as they prepare to fill gaps left by South Florida retirees.
Dr. Eneida Roldan, Executive Dean for Barry’s College of Health Professions & Medical Sciences, spoke with 7News about the hardworking aspiring first responders earlier this weekend.
“I am very, very proud — humbled — and very proud of leading this college into the next century, training and really graduating our next first responders,” she said.
Barry has acquired a real emergency fire engine, a tool that university officials said is vital for their commitment to real-world emergency service education.
“The truck behind me is a center piece of education,” said Academy of Service Director Frank Galgano. “We actually have to have these trucks on site, so these fires simulate the real thing.”
The university claims it fills the need for emergency workforce members, as retirees exceed the new hires in South Florida.
“You need firefighters; if we are at a deficit, then people won’t get response times fast enough, and it’s going to affect the community.” said Barry Fire Program student Esabella Martinez.
They aim to produce highly skilled graduates that become trained professionals, ready to serve communities and save lives.
“Barry was my way to Fire Academy and getting into this experience,” said Martinez. “It’s honestly a great academy. It shows you a lot and how diverse they are and open and willing to help people. It’s an amazing academy.”
Barry is the only university in the country to offer a full continuum of emergency services training through its College of Health Professions & Medical Sciences.
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