Hobbs State Fire Department launches six-week ‘Fully Involved Fire Academy’ for people with special needs

Hobbs State Fire Department on stage-launched the Fully Involved Fire Academy, a six-week program created with the Northwest Special Rec Association to give people with special needs hands-on exposure to firefighting equipment and activities, department spokesperson Curt Lichtenberg said.

Lichtenberg, identified as being with the Hobbs State Fire Department, said the program builds on the department's existing outreach, including its Citizens Fire Academy, and is “tailor made” so participants of different ages and abilities can take part. "We created the fully involved fire academy for those with special needs," he said.

The curriculum has included vehicle extrication training, lifting a school bus as a drill, breaking down doors, riding in a fire engine, off-road travel in a brush truck, and ascending in a ladder-truck basket. "Last week, all of them got into the fire engine and they went around the block," Lichtenberg said, describing those exercises.

Lichtenberg said the program is halfway through its run and already having a strong emotional effect: "The mission of this was to make an impact in that community and so far halfway through, it's definitely done that." He added that members of the department who have helped run the academy describe it as among the most impactful work they have done.

An on-duty firefighter, identified in the transcript only by role and noting nine years in Hoffman Estates, said volunteering with the academy was "by far the greatest thing I've done in the 9 years here at Hoffman Estates" and urged future cadets to participate, citing parents' positive feedback.

A program participant cheered during an activity: "Look what you did… Look you crushed the can," reflecting immediate enthusiasm from attendees.

Lichtenberg closed by challenging other departments to take similar steps, though the recorded remark is cut off in the transcript before the full call to action was captured.

The department did not provide details in the recorded segment about funding sources, participant selection criteria, or plans for expanding the program beyond the current six-week session. Further information was not specified in the transcript.