Sasha Hull
Lantern Staff
Josh Walker, a Butler sophomore, is studying fire science and plans on being a firefighter. While it is not unlikely for an average college student to live on campus, Walker takes it to the next level. Walker, and seven other fire science students, live at one of the fire stations in El Dorado. A Butler Community College Learning Center is connected to El Dorado’s 6th St. Station where students stay and receive a full experience as a firefighter.
The Learning Center looks like an ordinary building on campus from the inside. There is a nice kitchen and lounge area with a TV. They live in two dorm rooms, one full of bunk beds, another with only two beds, which is usually for female students, if any were to live there.
At the age of 14, Walker volunteered with a firefighter camp in his hometown of Mulvane. This experience is what inspired him to pursue fire science. Growing up as an only child, Walker loved hunting, fishing or anything that involves being outside.
“I lived a good life, small town life and meeting up with friends at Sonic on Friday nights,” he said with a laugh.
Walker spends most of his time at the Fire Science Learning Center as four of his five classes are in that building. He does get a break by being assigned to work at the downtown fire station. He and other fire science students work 24 hours shifts with 48 hours off. A typical day on shift starts at 7 a.m.
“We check all the gear and all the trucks,” Walker said. “We don’t want to get out on a house fire call and not have everything we need, that’s not the time for it.”
Fire science students in this program that are not certified wear black helmets while out on calls. This indicates that they are only allowed to watch and assist by grabbing tools. After receiving certification however, students then wear yellow helmets, which indicates that they are firefighters.
“We pull the same weight as all the other guys,” Walker said. “We just get a scholarship and housing instead of getting paid.”
As far as the learning experiences go, students start out in the classroom and take their knowledge into the training station right outside the door.
“We take things from the classroom onto shift and sometimes they say, ‘That’s good, but what if we added this to it or did it this way,’ and just add things,” Walker said. “We’re just always learning something new.”
Walker’s favorite part about the program is when they go with the shift lieutenant to elementary schools to teach kids about fire prevention and safety.
“It’s nice to fight fires and all, but if we can prevent that and teach kids something they didn’t know and they can go home and possibly teach their parents some fire safety, I think that’s really cool,” Walker said.
The worst part about the program from Walker’s perspective is working a shift when you have class the next day.
“It’s hard whenever you have a busy shift,” Walker said “You might have a long night and no sleep and then have to go to class the next day. When you complete, you have a degree and certification along with two years of experience whenever you graduate to put on your resume,” he said, explaining how the residency program helps fire science students.
Sophomore Kolton Vesterings is also apart of the residency program and just recently was hired on by El Dorado Fire Department.
“It’s surreal to finally be starting my career after going to school for so long,” Vestrings said. “I’ve been working alongside the full time crews for a little over a year now with the residency program, and I’ve really fell in love with the department, and it’s awesome to be apart of it now.”
Vestrings feels that if someone is interested in fire science, Butler’s program is the way to go.
“I don’t think there’s anything like it as far as a fire science and getting the most experience as we can,” Vestrings said. “Being able to work alongside a full-time department showed me everything that goes into it rather than just what the book says.”
Walker says one thing someone might not know unless they live at a fire station is the brotherhood it creates.
“You live with and are around these guys 24/7, they become family,” Walker said. “So when you’re out on a call, you can look at them you know they are going to do anything to make sure you make it back.”
Despite living a busy life as a college student and fire fighter, Walker still goes home on the weekends to see his parents, ride horses and do anything outside. He enjoys getting some time to relax, do his homework and playing GTA V on the Xbox with his buddies at the Learning Center. Walker said he has no plans for after graduation besides travel and look into getting a job at a fire station in Wichita to stay close to home, but hopes more students who are interested in fire science consider this program and the benefits it brings to those who join.