The Inland Empire Fire Explorer Association will host the 21st Explorer Academy at the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, starting November 14.
This year, 240 youth from 30 fire department jurisdictions in the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside are scheduled to attend. Cities represented include Phelan, Ontario, Redlands, Temecula and Victorville.
The Fire Explorer Association is a career exploration program that teaches discipline, respect and teamwork as well as the fundamentals of firefighting.
The academy also gives the participants an up-close look at life in the Army. While attending the academy Explorers stay in barracks and eat in the Fort Irwin dining facilities. For some the academy is their first exposure to the military.
The training is facilitated by civilian fire department personnel and includes structural firefighting and flammable liquid and gases firefighting.
Graduation for the academy is attended by hundreds of family members and friends and is scheduled for Nov. 18.
