For Matthew Stevens, the Waldorf volunteer fire station is almost home. He eats and sleeps there five nights a week. "I pretty much live there," he said.
The Waldorf station, located just south of Washington, D.C., is the busiest 100 percent volunteer fire department in the United States, according to Stevens, averaging 50-60 runs a week. "Most of those are accidents because of the traffic around here," he said. "A lot of my job is using the jaws of life to cut people out of cars."
Stevens, of LaPlata, Maryland, estimates that he makes 70 to 80 runs a month. He plans to make a career of it-hoping to eventually investigate fires for the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. To achieve his goal, he needs a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or fire science. So, along with his full-time job detailing cars and his many hours of volunteer work at the fire station, Stevens is a student in the fire science program at University of Maryland University College (UMUC).
Since UMUC's Bachelor's Degree-at-a-Distance Program offers a fire science degree program, where no classroom attendance is required, Stevens can take his courses and still keep pace with his busy life. All fire science courses are offered through voice-mail conferencing (all one needs to participate is a touch-tone telephone), plus one doesn't have to attend class at a specific time. "I can keep my job here locally, and still volunteer here in Waldorf," he said.
Because volunteer firefighters face a demanding round-the-clock schedule of volunteer work and full-time jobs, many find it difficult to attend regularly scheduled classroom sessions. That's why UMUC distance education courses are so popular. One never has to set foot in a classroom, and attendance can be from anywhere in the country.
Today's firefighters must adapt to technological advances and increasingly sophisticated equipment. In addition to fighting fires, volunteers face a growing array of emergencies. Advancement often depends on knowledge of firefighting techniques and communication and management skills. UMUC, in conjunction with the National Fire Academy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has developed a program that serves those who want to be fire-service professionals. The program offers state-of-the art knowledge for advancement to chief executive management and senior leadership positions.
As a UMUC student, you may earn either a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in fire science or a National Fire Academy Certificate, awarded for completion of six courses. The flexibility of the distance education program means you don't have to attend classes in a specific place, so you can live anywhere in the country and still earn a degree from UMUC.
Melissa Helgesen lives in Verona, Wisconsin. A former sheriff department employee, Helgesen is now a captain in charge of fire inspection and prevention, and incident command at the Verona Fire Department. From across the country, Helgesen also is a student in UMUC's fire science program.
"I'd like to get into more of the professional end of it,'' Helgesen said. "The highest degree offered in this region is an associate's degree, so it's good that I can do it at a distance." Helgesen previously earned an associate's degree in police science at a local community college. She will be able to apply many of those credits toward her UMUC degree and also gain credit for some of her work experience through UMUC's Prior Learning program.
Helgesen said the flexibility of UMUC's distance education program makes it possible for her to keep up her busy lifestyles and work her classes into her schedule. "I just love the flexibility of it," she said. "It's the only way I could really do it."
UMUC's program serves all fire professionals looking to advance in their careers. The program includes younger volunteers like Stevens and more experienced adults like Daniel Quimby of Philadelphia.
Quimby already has a bachelor's degree from Thomas Edison State College and a master's degree in criminal justice from St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia. To increase his career opportunities in the building safety and fire-related construction field, he is now on his way to receiving a second bachelor's degree from UMUC.
A former police officer, Quimby is now the executive general manager of maintenance and emergency management for the Philadelphia Housing Authority. He performs volunteer planning and logistical work with the Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, a team that responds to major disasters such as collapsed buildings and floods, including such notable events as floods from Hurricane Floyd and the Concept Chemical explosion in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Quimby earned academic credit through UMUC's Prior Learning program for his on-the-job experience, and he praises the fire science program.
"The instructors are good and it's a unique and great program," he said. "I can work at my own pace. If I have a lot of time one week, I can do more, then do less the next week when I don't have time."
For more information about UMUC's fire science curriculum, or to apply, call 800-283-6832, or visit the web page at www.umuc.edu/firescience.
