Palm Bay Magnet High School launches firefighter program

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — One hundred students are enrolled in the new firefighting and technical education program at Palm Bay Magnet High School.

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Brevard Public Schools just opened this program in Melbourne.

“I’ve been wanting to find a job where I can help people and have time for myself,” said Bryson Burrows, a student at Palm Bay Magnet High School. “I love how firefighters work 24 on and 48 off.”

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Agencies in Brevard County hope that this program will inspire students to pursue careers in the fire service, which could be a bridge to the Fire Training Academy, or carry into other careers.

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Melbourne Fire Department Chief Chuck Bogle said this is a great opportunity for local students to find out if this is something they want to do.

“Right now in the fire service industry, in the state of Florida, there’s a retention-recruitment issue,” Bogle said. “And so this is a great start, especially for people that are homegrown talent.”

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Students will be learning from retired Palm Bay Fire Rescue Lt. Chester Bombriant.

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