INDIANAPOLIS — The city helped dedicate the new fire drill tower Monday at Arsenal Tech High School for its fire and rescue program.
The tower comes with different ladders and sets of stair configurations so students can train like real firefighters, and it's all thanks to an initiative by Indianapolis Fire Department Chief Ernest Malone, who said this isn't only about education on first response. It's about helping kids stay on track.
"Some of these kids don't start off with very much, but I can tell you they've given this program their all," Malone said. "Kids like Shawn, I mean, these kids have a 100% graduation rate. Every kid who's gone through this program has graduated high school. I think that's huge."
The IPS Fire and Rescue Program launched in 2012 and gives high school juniors and seniors the chance to experience engine and ladder operations, aerial climbs, advancement of hose lines, CPR and hazmat operations.
