When a fire breaks out in Johnson County, chances are the first responders include graduates of the Fire Science program at Johnson County Community College (JCCC). Through partnerships with area fire departments, live-fire training, and a curriculum that replicates life in the fire service, students graduate from JCCC ready to respond to emergencies and save lives.
JCCC’s Fire Science program takes a different approach from many others in the area, as the program director, Tim Whitham, also happens to serve as the Chief of the Edwardsville, Kansas, Fire Department. Training at JCCC is based on the day-to-day operations of a fire station. Students wear uniforms to class, train in formation, and their syllabus is modeled after a firefighter’s manual.
The Fire Academy at JCCC offers several different program options, but the most popular is the one-year Firefighter Certificate. However, to further their career opportunities, many students also return to complete JCCC’s associate degree in Fire Science. In addition, JCCC partners with the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute at the University of Kansas (KU) for their certifications. JCCC also partners with many other universities, which guarantees that JCCC credits will transfer to a bachelor’s degree.
Emphasis on skills-based training
JCCC’s program emphasizes skills-based training, and one of its unique features is the number of live burns the students complete. “While most firefighter training programs have students complete one or two live burns, JCCC students practice fighting six live burns, each lasting 12 hours,” said Whitham.
While those live burn days sound intense, they are vital to the student’s training. They help prepare students emotionally and psychologically to enter the high-stress situations they will encounter in the field. Another important benefit of live-burn training for students is to develop their muscle memory. “You can see the difference in the students’ strength, endurance, and confidence in their ability from the first to the last live burn,” said Whitham.
Additionally, JCCC’s Fire Science students are required to participate in two ride-along days with area fire departments. On these days, students experience a variety of emergency response calls, which reflect an actual day on the job. Most of the students in JCCC’s program aim to enter the fire service in northeast Kansas, and so they also benefit from making valuable industry connections.
Other fire education opportunities through JCCC
Being a firefighter isn’t the only job that JCCC Fire Science students can train for. JCCC also partners with the state on a special in-service course, the Eastern Kansas Wildland Fire School. In partnership with the Kansas Forest Service and the Johnson County Fire & Emergency Services Chiefs Association, this four-day program is designed for those passionate about their career or establishing a career in wildland firefighting.
JCCC also has a course for introductory wildland firefighter training. The first time JCCC offered this specialized training in the spring of 2024, two students were hired by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management before they graduated from the course. Wildland Fire School will be offered again in Spring 2026 (February 26 to March 1). Wildland Fire School courses are also offered through JCCC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education branch. The introductory course to wildland firefighter training will also be offered in the Spring 2026 semester.
The Fire Academy at JCCC is a selective admission program. A team of JCCC Fire Science faculty interviews program applicants biannually to select students for the next term. Due to student demand, the program doubled in size in 2022, and JCCC began offering an option for students to get started while in high school. Chief Whitham works with instructors at four area schools, all of whom are either active or retired firefighters, on a dual credit course that students can complete while in high school.
Learn more
To learn more about Fire Science program options at JCCC, visit jccc.edu/firescience. Plus, tuition for Fire Science programs could be paid for through the Kansas Promise Scholarship for eligible students. Learn more at jccc.edu/kansaspromise.
