PART 6 CLASS 18: IN SIGHT AND SOUND-THE JAMES SHERN FIRE ACADEMY/COMPTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

Most people know that Westlake Signal Groups roots are in our coverage of Southern Californias fire service. We started out with Engine Company X and continued with Then & Now: The LAFD. In between those great projects, we produced two films for the James Shern Fire Academy based in Compton, Ca and run by the City of Compton Fire Department. What is the James Shern Fire Academy? Well, it is an academy whose curriculum mirrors any FDs Drill Tower programs. Cadets are put through classroom instruction and drills using tools of the trade AND ALSO FIGHT LIVE FIRE. We produced films for the academys Class 17 and 18 (which was the last class the JSFA offered as of this time). Filming for this project took place over a series of months and pretty much began as the cadets were beginning their journey from the classroom to the actual drill tower. We followed every aspect of training and have some awesome images of cadets trying to survive drills in the fire room, car fires, rescues, and so on. We cap it off by showing the final payoff: Graduation. There are lighter moments that show that everyone does have fun even if they are in a paramilitary environment. The academy is run by committed firefighters from the City of Compton, the Los Angeles City Fire Department, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Many of the cadets who attended this academy go on to find jobs in the fire service throughout Southern California and other states in the U.S. Youll get to see what it takes to be a firefighter in this 1 hour 37 minute film. Can you handle it?

Please note, this film is being posted in MULTIPLE PARTS!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Compton Fire Department
• Compton
• California
• fire academy
• fire
• cadets
• learning
• firemen
• firefighters
• Westlake signal group
• filmmakers
• film
• video
• chin thammasaengsri

[farmboy123456789101]

being 16 . going to school , taking care of a baby & now being a cadet firefighter . my life is pritty sweet .

[WestlakeSig]

You are doing a man's job all around my friend. Keep it up and make it through the training. I can attest that the young men & women who complete this training and get on a department are the happiest people alive!

[farmboy123456789101]

i`m going to be a cadet firefighter soon for. its mostly country , will i have to go though that much training ? i hope not .

[WestlakeSig]

That's a good question. I would suspect maybe not because your part of the job will be different than municipal firefighters. I would be interested to here what other pro firefighters might have to say on this. Good luck by the way and stay safe in the academy!

[WestlakeSig]

Hahahahahaha...I guess that's what the academy is for: Do the wrong things there and learn what you should do before you hit the streets with real people!

[gizmodog78]

why is the roof crew not wearing the scba and come on i know its a drill but it isnt good if your doing a rescue and you hurt the victim more by pulling them face down the stairs? haha

[hollis1985]

Nothing like dragging the victim down the stairs face first...Nice...

Great roof ops, too. Good f-ing grief!