The Oxnard College Fire Academy unveiled its latest multi-use facility last week, dedicating it to the Academy’s founder, Ed French.
Construction began on the $6.4 million state-of-the-art facility in 2019. It provides a learning space for students and cadets to gain hands-on experience with tools and fire science apparatus, helping develop and hone their firefighting skills. The facility also houses the program’s equipment and fleet of firefighting vehicles.
“We are excited to expand our facilities at Oxnard College’s esteemed Fire Academy based in Camarillo,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, interim president of Oxnard College. “Our new apparatus bay provides much-needed space for Ventura County’s next generation of firefighting recruits to develop their skills and house the program’s expansive inventory of cutting-edge equipment.”
Ed French, for whom the facility is named, established the Academy in 1997. With few resources available at the time, Mr. French worked quickly to assemble a team, develop partnerships with local firefighting and public safety agencies and launch the program. Since the academy’s opening, the program has produced well over 2,200 firefighting graduates across 60 battalions who have gone on to serve in fire and public safety careers here in Ventura County and throughout the United States.
The Oxnard College Fire Academy is located near the Camarillo Airport and sits alongside the Ventura County Fire Department’s Training Center.
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