Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For 15 years, South Texas College’s (STC) Fire Academy has helped prepare aspiring firefighters to serve their communities across the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). As the academy celebrates this milestone, it is also entering a new chapter with plans to expand the program to the STC Mid-Valley Campus in spring 2027.
The expansion will provide students in the Mid-Valley and surrounding communities with greater access to firefighter training while helping meet the continued demand for qualified professionals in the region.
“Fifteen years is a major accomplishment,” said Victor Valdez, Fire Science department chair at STC. “It represents all the students we have trained, the departments we have supported and the communities our graduates now serve. It also reflects the dedication of the faculty, staff and fire service partners who have helped build this program over the years.”
The academy has grown from operating out of a couple portable buildings at STC’s Technology Campus to utilizing a state-of-the-art facility at the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence Campus in Pharr. The program has expanded its locations, equipment and technology while developing stronger partnerships with fire departments and school districts.
“These departments see the need for this type of program and training for students,” said Daniel Montez, STC Mid-Valley campus administrator. “With a rigorous curriculum, well-qualified instructors and the support of our local fire service partners, we are excited to bring this opportunity to the Mid-Valley and help prepare the next generation of firefighters.”
Over the past 15 years, the academy has trained nearly 500 students, many of whom now serve fire departments throughout the RGV and across Texas.
“We are proud to know that many of them are protecting the same communities where they live,” Valdez said. “The academy has become more than a training program. It has become a pathway into the fire service and higher education, giving students the skills to begin their careers while also giving them an opportunity to continue growing professionally.”
STC’s Fire Academy stands out by combining firefighter training with college coursework.
Students can apply their Fire Academy courses towards and Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Science, creating an opportunity to continue their education after completing their initial firefighter training.
Students also receive hands-on instruction from experienced fire service professionals and train with advanced technology, including virtual reality and a live-fire training facility.
The expansion to the Mid-Valley comes as a demand for the program continues to grow. The Fire Academy has reached capacity at its current location, with students placed on waiting lists.
“The demand is there,” Valdez said. “We have students from the Mid-Valley area who are already traveling to attend the academy in Pharr. Expanding to the Mid Valley Campus allows us to serve more students and remove some of the barriers that can make pursuing this career difficult.”
For Mid-Valley students, bringing the program closer to home could make a significant difference.
“The Fire Academy coming to the Mid Valley Campus will create new opportunities for students,” Montez said. “It also creates another strong pipeline for cities throughout our area to recruit qualified, well-trained firefighters who are prepared to help protect our communities.”
The expansion will help strengthen the region’s fire service workforce by increasing the number of qualified firefighter candidates available to local departments.
“Every additional student we are able to train represents another potential firefighter serving a community,” Valdez said. “But we also want students to see that becoming a firefighter can be the beginning of a career, not the end of their education. By earning college credit and continuing toward an associate degree, they can position themselves for future opportunities and advancement within the fire service.”
Information source: STC
