By Emily Burleigh

Vernon Parish students will now have the opportunity to participate in firefighter training.

The Leesville City Council unanimously approved a partnership between the Leesville Fire Department, the Vernon Parish School Board and the Fort Johnson Fire Department at its meeting on Monday. This partnership will create a new channel for technical training to local students.

The 2024 Firefighter Training Academy is a year-long pilot program starting Aug. 19. Six juniors and seniors from nine local high schools will receive classroom instruction, hands-on training, skills-based assessment and certification exams that will support them in their journey to become certified firefighters, according to a release from LFD.

After completing the training, assessments and exams, students will earn several certifications — hazardous materials awareness, hazardous materials operations, EMR and firefighter level I and II — that will ensure they are ready for the workforce.

Councilmember Chris Robertson, District 2, congratulated Fire Chief Bobby Hooks on the program, stating it is an accessible option for students who are not college-bound.

“As a husband of an educator … there’s a lot of youth that are not going to go to college, that want to pursue other options,” he said. “To be able to get firefighting into our youth, and let them see some of this stuff, I think is a huge stride. … If you give them an option for a second route to go, its a great career that they can get into.”

Councilmember At-Large Phillip Hunt noted that VPSB also has a welding program, which “took off like a rocket.”

Myrtle Park

Vandalism at Mytrle Park, located at 1103 King’s Road, was brought up again by the council.

Following the defacement of a new mural and damage to pickleball courts in the park in May, it was announced that the Leesville Police Department would install cameras in the park to catch vandalizers.

Councilmember Nicole Ybarra, District 3, inquired about a camera system at the Monday meeting in response to more vandalism.

“There’s a lot of people that have donated a lot of time, money, labor, everything to make improvements to that park, and it continuously gets vandalized.”

Leesville Police Chief Beth Westlake confirmed the park now has temporary cameras installed. LPD aims to install something more permanent once funding is available, she said.

Hunt noted he recently witnessed graffiti on a sign at the ballpark, as well, and said the “younger generation” doesn’t understand the financial impact of the vandalism.

“It cost a lot of money,” he said. “They’re doing these things and their not thinking much about how much it costs to do that.”