The Citizens Fire Academy (CFA) is a ten week program to educate citizens on the services provided by Odessa Fire/Rescue. Class meets weekly on Tuesdays between 7 and 9:30 pm Most classes are conducted at the City's drill field located on South Dixie.

Opportunities & Participation

Due to the broad range of services Odessa Fire Rescue (OFR) provides to the community, the CFA will consist of a wide variety of opportunities for participation. Some of these opportunities may be physically and emotionally demanding. Each participant will have the opportunity to have some hands-on experience, as well as acquire an overall general knowledge of the fire service and its function in our community.

Participation in exercises is optional. Some of the hands-on experience may include wearing firefighter protective gear. Some participants will be invited to wear a fully encapsulated Level "A" suit, used in hazardous materials incidents. The participants will also use portable fire extinguishers. Each applicant should know their limitations, and communicate those limitations promptly.

The participants will be permitted to ride along on a fire engine at various fire stations, giving them full perspective of the life of a Firefighter both in the station and on emergency runs.

Understanding OFR Services

All participants will receive a general overview of OFR services to the community. They will learn how OFR responds to both emergency medical services (EMS) and fire emergencies. They will learn the purpose of technical rescue and hazardous materials response. They will also receive an overview of how 911 systems operate and how the Fire Marshal's Office functions in fire prevention, investigation, and public education.

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in activities that include training in the smoke house. This facility allows firefighters to practice various techniques in a smoked filled structure.