BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Because Allentown Fire Academy currently only offers just one training class per year from February until June, officials in Bethlehem are thinking of sending potential incoming cadets to the capital city for their instruction.
If the measure ultimately is approved, up to nine individuals — at an expense of $19,447, plus salaries, per cadet — would attend Harrisburg Area Community College for 19 weeks.
The expense would be covered by revenue from the city’s excess investment interest.
City Council on July 16 approved an ordinance outlining the proposal, so one more procedural move awaits. That’s likely to come early next month, since the academy begins Aug. 19.
“Our training captain would work to find these personnel the additional water rescue training after they complete the academy. Other than that, they’ll fulfill all the other requirements that they get at Allentown.”Bethlehem Fire Chief Michael Reich
The recent arrangement with HACC will give the potential cadets all the instruction they’d usually get locally, minus one specialty.
“Our training captain would work to find these personnel the additional water rescue training after they complete the academy,” Fire Chief Michael Reich said.
“Other than that, they’ll fulfill all the other requirements that they get at Allentown.”
Vacancies in the past few months
The fire department currently has 12 vacancies — three of those currently are in arbitration, Reich said.
During the last budget season, the city sent eight cadets to Allentown Fire Academy.
But vacancies in the meantime have been higher than average based on the past 10-15 years, according to city Business Administrator Eric Evans.
Reich wrote in his letter to city council's Finance Committee that the department had a three-year stretch from 2021-23 when no cadets were sent to the academy because of no turnover and the timing of one vacancy.
And now, his department has eight people left on its recruit list, and one more who has recovered from a previous injury at the Allentown academy.
"I think it’s very worthwhile on the front end to make a little extra investment to get folks trained and going."Bethlehem City Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek
Reich said he and other fire officials still have interviews to complete, and passing physical and psychological exams would be prerequisites for the cadets before attending classes.
The estimated graduation would be just after the new year.
At the pre-council Finance Committee meeting, Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek said waiting six months more to move to fill the department’s vacancies would wear out the current staff.
“I think it’s very worthwhile on the front end to make a little extra investment to get folks trained and going,” Kwiatek said.
Associated costs
Lou Jimenez, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 735, said approving the funding would not only positively impact the “well-being and efficiency” of current staff, but also prioritize broader public safety.
“We’re confident that this investment will yield significant benefits in terms of improved service delivery, enhanced morale among our firefighters and overall cost savings through the reduction of overtime expenses,” Jimenez said.
"We’re confident that this investment will yield significant benefits in terms of improved service delivery, enhanced morale among our firefighters and overall cost savings through the reduction of overtime expenses."Lou Jimenez, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 735
Some associated costs, incurred both during academy and post-hire, include:
- $7,800 tuition at HACC, a $200 savings compared to Allentown
- $622 for proper gear rental
- About $3,500 for lodging at Central Penn College, which is a seven-minute drive from the HACC academy
- $180,000 in salaries
- A little more than $7,500 in associated hiring costs for each new firefighter, including about $5,400 for fire gear, boots and facepiece; $1,100 for station uniforms; and more.
