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Valley ROP outlines growing firefighting and EMT pathways at Selma High
Summary
Valley Regional Occupational Program presenters told Selma council their urban‑fire and wildland tracks have expanded from about a dozen students 15 years ago to roughly 125 in the urban program and about 170 when combined with wildland courses; speakers described dual‑enrollment college credits and local hiring outcomes.
Fabrizio Lofaro, superintendent of the Valley Regional Occupational Program (Valley ROP), told the Selma City Council on Nov. 4 that the program has grown substantially and remains focused on career pathways into firefighting and emergency medical services.
"We are a ROP program," Lofaro said, summarizing the organization’s role in local schools. Valley ROP partners with Selma Unified School District and other districts to deliver about 19 career pathways at Selma High and a middle‑school pathway at Abraham Lincoln Middle School.
Larry Roberts, the Selma High instructor for Valley ROP’s Herbert Drew Fire class, outlined the program’s origins and scale. "We started 15 years ago with about 12 students," Roberts said. "This year, we have about a 125 students in this program just in the urban rural class. Plus, we have a wildland firefighting program. If we combine the 2 program, we have almost about a 170 students in this program."
Roberts described dual‑enrollment agreements with Reedley College and Fresno City College that give students college credit and prerequisites for college fire academies. He also described work‑based experiences: students who complete the ROP classes may do ride‑alongs, apply for fire‑intern positions, and earn credit toward state certifications.
Presenters highlighted local hiring outcomes. Roberts cited multiple program alumni now working as firefighter‑paramedics and wildland crew members. The council and staff praised the partnerships between Valley ROP, Selma Fire Department and area colleges, and several council members thanked the presenters for expanding local workforce opportunities.
Why it matters: The ROP pathways create a direct pipeline from Selma High into firefighting and emergency services where the program supplies both technical training and college credit, potentially reducing recruitment gaps for local departments and giving students credentialed career options before college.
What’s next: Presenters said ROP will continue outreach at middle schools and expand live‑fire and field training exposures; staff and council members encouraged continued coordination on class capacity and equipment needs.
