As the semester comes to an end, the Del Mar College Fire Science students held a family day to show their families and communities the techniques they have learned.

Program Director Michael Schmitt, Instructor Joe McQuary, and Assistant Instructor James Creek oversaw four groups of five students put blazing fires out of a rusted dumpster and an old vehicle.

As flames escaped the top of a large dumpster, the fire science students directed the hose and worked as a team, demonstrating the training they’ve learned during program.

Spectators could feel the heat coming off the fire and the water splashing at the crowd as each team gauged the pressure of the hose and successfully put out each fire.

Students have a variety of reasons for becoming a firefighter. Many say it is a family tradition and for others it is their own way of building a family, as many students call it a brotherhood and sisterhood.

“My motivation in joining this program was because I wanted to help a lot of people, give back, and be a part of a strong brotherhood,” firefighter student AJ Deleon said.

Those wishing to become a firefighter for the City of Corpus Christi must meet several requirements. Cadets must have or be willing to become a certified paramedic, as most calls are for medical needs rather than fires.

There is also a hiring age limit of 36, where the applicant must be 35 on the day of hire.

Firefighting has changed greatly in a multitude of ways, such as becoming more diverse in gender and race, an increase in safety gear policies to protect against toxins encountered in the career, and new technological devices including thermal imagers, radios, and pack trackers.

Del Mar College offers two programs in firefighting. One is the Texas Commission of Fire Protection Structural Firefighter Certification and the other an associate degree in fire science. Both require a minimum of 450 hours consisting of lecture and skill.

Public safety is always in demand as a career.

“We are always looking for new hires, but it comes with the part of spending a third of your life at the department,” assistant instructor of Fire Science James Creek said.