ESCONDIDO — Students in Orange Glen High School’s firefighting program debuted their skills at a regional firefighting competition earlier this month.
In its first year at OGHS, the 1904 Cadets team earned third place in the Best of the Best High School Firefighter Challenge on March 8 at the Poway Fire Training Tower.
The challenge put students through a series of demanding exercises, including quickly and correctly donning firefighting equipment, dragging and using fire hoses, completing a close quarter rescue, working with fire tools, and running up multiple flights of stairs in full gear.
Escondido Union High School District leadership commended the 1904 Cadets for demonstrating “outstanding teamwork, skill, and determination, standing out among competitors from across the county.”
“We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and perseverance,” said Teacher Doug Paulson, who oversees the program. “To place in the top three in their very first competition speaks volumes about their commitment and the strength of our new program.”
The school’s firefighting program provides students with hands-on training and leadership opportunities in public safety.
For now, Orange Glen is the district’s only high school with the firefighting program. The district is planning to offer a fire technology class as a credit bearing, seventh period class next year with a goal of moving it into the regular school day as an additional Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway.
