AUSTIN, Texas — As fire danger continues across Texas, fire academies across the state are upping the efforts to recruit and train more firefighters.

Austin Community College’s Fire Training Academy will graduate 25 students this spring. It plans to accept around 30 applicants next semester.

“The state of Texas is definitely hurting for firefighters,” Captain Ryan Grinnell, director of the academy, said. “They’re looking at over a 20% increase and need in the job within the next couple of years.”

The academy also provides the cadets with a basic wildland firefighter certification through the state of Texas. It’s a 40-hour course that’s offered as part of their curriculum.

“Wildland firefighting, especially at this time of year, is super important. Springtime is Texas’ worst wildland season. We just saw up near Fort Hood and Killeen over 33,000 acres burned. It’s so devastating and wildfires are very unpredictable. One of the things that we’ve added into the course here at ACC is a 40 hour, basic wildland firefighter course. They get the basics and then once they get that certification, that helps with their job placement,” Grinnell said. 

The academy allows students to get an entry-level position as a professional firefighter. Graduates of ACC’s Fire Academy work throughout the state of Texas.

According to the fire academy’s website, admission priority is given to applicants who are EMT certified. They give next priority to volunteer firefighters and/or students who are currently in ACC’s Fire Protection Technology associate degree plan.

The deadline to apply is the end of April. It was originally April 15.