Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland Fire Department to Launch Cadet Program

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Fire Department to Launch Cadet Program

Westland, MI (April 8, 2019) - On Monday, April 1, the Westland City Council approved a resolution for the Westland Fire Department to launch a cadet program in conjunction with Wayne-Westland schools duel enrollment programs.

"This opportunity comes at a time when entry-level firefighters are in high demand and Chief's struggle to create a fire department more representative of their communities," commented Westland Fire Chief, Michael Stradtner.

In order for Fire Departments to diversify their ranks, one critical component is an emphasis on community engagement aimed at creating a pipeline of future applicants. Fire cadet programs offer youth and young adults opportunities to interact with fire personnel in non-emergency environments to learn about the jobs of firefighters and emergency medical staff. High school aged fire service training programs are gaining popularity and many schools in the state are progressing toward adding more value for students.

The development of a duel enrollment program for firefighter training and certification requires a third entity to join in. The partnership between Wayne-Westland schools, local community colleges, and the Westland Fire Department will prove to be a win-win for all three entities and a windfall for the student, their family, and the community.

The State Fire Marshal (Firefighter Training Division) requires anyone under the age of 18 be a cadet with a fire department to receive firefighter training. High school-aged fire service training programs are gaining popularity and allow students to gain real-world, immediately applicable skills upon graduation from high school.

"The creation of the Westland Fire Department Fire Cadet program will help students achieve their dream of becoming a firefighter or helping others realize the amazing benefits of working in public safety," commented Mayor Wild. "The program has many benefits, including the development of relationships with the schools and kids in the programs to communicate Fire Service culture and values, a focus on career preparation, experience, mentoring, and on the job time for resumes."

Above all, the Westland Fire Department Fire Cadet program will help foster a positive moral model and good citizenry from Fire Service exposure and Academy structure education.

For more information, please call the Mayor's Office at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.