One-of-a-kind Fire School draws firefighters from 18 countries

COLLEGE STATION – Hundreds of Spanish-speaking firefighters from across the globe are expected to make the trip to College Station for the 44th annual Spanish Fire Training School (Escuela para Bomberos en Espa?ol), which begins July 11.

The weeklong school annually draws Spanish-speaking firefighters from 18 countries from Central and South America, Europe and Africa to train at the world-renowned Brayton Fire Training Field, which is operated by the Texas Engineering Extension Service.

Recognized as the largest live-fire training facility in the world, Brayton Fire Training Field includes 132 realistic, full-scale training stations. These include 23 fueled, live-fire props and some of the world’s largest industrial props, all situated on a 120-acre emergency services training complex adjacent to Texas A&M University.

This year’s school offers 13 weeklong courses, covering everything from basic firefighting operations and hazardous materials incidents to rescue techniques and officer development. The firefighters learn from the experience and knowledge of approximately 200 volunteer instructors from numerous Spanish-speaking countries, teaching all classes in Spanish.

Special Events
A memorial service is set for Wednesday morning, July 14, for tenured guest instructors who died during the previous year. Their names are inscribed on the Guest Instructors’ Memorial Wall at the Brayton Fire Training Field.

A demonstration of hazardous materials decontamination and fire suppression techniques will be held Thursday evening, July 15, at Brayton Fire Training Field. The event is open to the public and gates open at 7 p.m.