VIDEO: When leaders at Sullivan East High School and Kingsport City Schools approached the Kingsport Fire Department to create a co-op program for students in its fire science classes, Assistant Fire Chief Terry Arnold said the department was interested right away.
“It is a great benefit, number one to give back to the community, and for recruitment,” Arnold told News Channel 11.
The program’s first two students, seniors Dustin Gragg from Sullivan East and Alexander Thompson from Dobyns-Bennett, got started this semester.
The students spend 20 to 25 hours of their week at Kingsport’s fire stations as part of a paid internship.
Thompson told News Channel 11 that so far he’s gotten to visit stations and training grounds, along with helping set up for future training.