Prescott Fire Department YC Gift Will Help Train Future Firefighters

The City of Prescott Fire Department has donated a fire truck to the Yavapai College Fire Science Program.
The City’s Fleet Services Supervisor Jim Fosnough drove a HME-manufactured Type I pumper to the Yavapai College Career and Technical Services Center on July 21. After 18 years with the Prescott Fire Department, the engine is now property of instructors and students in the YC Fire Science program.
“This donation helps our instructors to carry out our mission of training the next generation of firefighters,” Fire Science Program Interim Director Mikayla Baker said.
Prescott Fire Chief Dennis Light said the donation is the result of the college’s learning the department was decommissioning an older engine. YC issued a donation request, and the Prescott Fire Department and City of Prescott Fleet Services transferred ownership to YC following a unanimous vote by the City Council.
Light said the donated engine will provide students with a tool that can help them acquire knowledge, skills and abilities to serve the area as future firefighters.
The handover was attended by Fosnough, Baker, Light, Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli, Prescott Fleet Manager Justin Hill and Yavapai College Dean of Career and Technical Education John Morgan.
The donation benefits two YC programs: fire science, and the diesel program. Students can maintain the fire truck in operational form through diesel tech courses, Morgan said. He also said students in the autobody, automotive paint and upholstery curricula will be called upon in the future to maintain the engine as needed.