In many cities around the United States, there is a shortage of firefighters. Increased training requirements and exhausting schedules are some factors contributing to the shortage.
But one international fire academy has offered their training online to bring in more recruits.
It was started by a man who faced terrible tragedy as a young boy. It was Halloween,1976, a night that forever changed the Moffitt family.
"From what we understand our house caught on fire from one those jack-o-laterns in the window," Mick Moffit said of that night.
As flames spread, the father and two children managed to escape. Their mother Linda did not.
Despite his family's painful loss, young Mick gained something valuable that night.
"What I remember are these two men that went up ladder and brought me to safe place," Moffit said. "They spent 20 minutes encouraging me."
Moffit said they understood that his life was about to change. The compassion he saw from the firefighters sparked a vision to start his own fire academy.
Moffit has seen that vision come to life through a training center called Smart Fire Training Division. He serves as the CEO.
During the last 13 years, Smart Fire Training Division has grown to the largest academy of its kind in the United States, attracting recruits from all over the world. They also have an optional online training program.
"I wanted to get into a culture where there is a lot of tradition, history, loyalty and respect," recruit Chuck Howie said.
It was this type of culture that God began to birth in Moffit's heart.
"I started to do an exercise: If you could describe what a firefighter is with one word, what would that word be?" Moffit said.
Moffit explained that those characteristics are character, honor, respect, integrity, service and teamwork.
"God just spoke to me so quickly," Moffit said. "[He] said that this is the pillars of wisdom and those are what I want you to incorporate and help these guys understand the importance of."
"Here at the fire training, we have the theme of leave no man behind, which is a lot like in the Christian walk," Brad Loewman, COO of the training division, said.
A major highlight of the school comes during the two week, hands-on training for recruits. The recruits experience six emergency scenarios that they may encounter during their career, including a medievac helicopter rountine.
As Smart Fire continues to grow, Moffit leans on a lesson learned from one tragic night. The selfless act of two men pulling him from that fire instilled in him the value of saving others.
During the 100th bootcamp anniversary Moffit says he learned another valuable lesson.
He explained that two men came up to him and said that they remember that tragic night: they were the ones that saved him.
"I cant even explain to you the emotion. They were so grateful to know their integrity impacted someones life," he said. "And for me really steered the course of my life."
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