[Vincent Pupo, Jr.]  The strengths of the program with Erie Community College Fire Protection Technology is it provides a core of information for both professional, volunteer and sometimes people that sit in the class just to gain knowledge about the fire service.

[John Kubitsy]  The purpose, of course, is to improve their skills and give them the opportunity to learn management and administration, fiscal, which is not normally taught in the fire services.

[Vincent Pupo, Jr.]  This program, it brings in people in the industry.  They bring in people that are actually in those fields as a full time employment, bring them in part time to teach the students what is going on.  Not only book work, but what is going on in the real world.    

[D. Anthony Schueckler] That we are at 85, 172 and we are climbing ...

[Vincent Pupo, Jr]  The fire protection technology course is a lot different then the fire courses that are taken at the various fire departments on how to operate pumps, how to climb ladders.  The college program talks about that, but it also goes beyond that to show about the reason why and the theories.

[John Kubisty]  Student would be taking classes in the basics fire prevention and protection, fire protection equipment and alarm systems, fire operation strategy, arson fire investigation, we also have a new class dealing with fire internship.

[Charles Brown]  The internship program that E C C has in the fire protection technology program puts the student in arson investigation, riding with the arson awareness team, also staying in quarters during the working hours.
 
[John Kubisty]  In addition to the 12 fire protection classes, students must take two classes in english, two classes in chemistry, two in social studies, one in humanities and one in a general science .

[D. Anthony Schueckler]  At least in our life time, right now it is one of the largest fire fighter lost of life that happened in one single place, other then the World Trade Center.  So it is something that we really need to study and understand it.

[Vincent Pupo, Jr.]  I believe that a student needs to bring certain skills into the classroom.  Most of the students are coming with just a high school education, some have advanced education, but are coming back for these fire courses.  Some of the most basic things that they need and sometimes they neglect,  is the ability to not only read and comprehend, but to be able to write.

[John Kubisty]  Students would have to know how to read and write effectively in an attempt to interpret fire codes and standards and be able to assimilate those and promote those in the area of fire prevention.

[Siren]

[Charles Brown]  What I hope a student gets out of our program is to become a viable employee in being prepared for any man made or natural disaster in fire extinguishment and prevention and also informing the public in fire prevention.

[Vincent Pupo, Jr.]  My goal for them is to gain as much skill and knowledge as possible and use their degree for what it is, a tool for them to advance and to be a well rounded fire fighter or chief of the fire department.