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Long-time firefighter to head college program
McCOOK, Nebraska -- He'd been in town for less than a week, but it just made sense for Tim Zehnder to join the McCook Volunteer Fire Department. His father was a firefighter, Tim had been a firefighter for the past 23 years and as McCook Community College's new Director of Fire Science, he knows what a vital role that volunteer departments fill in smaller midwest communities.
His hometown of Truman, Minn. has a population of about 1,250 residents, so he said he appreciates all the challenges area fire departments face.
For the past year he was employed by Clarey's Safety Equipment, as the Director of Fire Training and a sales representative. From 2005-2012 he was the Program Manager at South Central Technical College; North Mankato, Minn, one of the leading fire training institutions within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, with enrollment numbers rising each year. He served as the institute's state fire instructor from 1993-2012.
He had served as a volunteer firefighter for the Truman Fire Department since 1990, a department that has been in service for 100 years protecting 92 square miles, with 26 active members. He filled a variety of roles for the Truman department including Fire Chief, Safety Officer, Second Assistant Chief, Captain and Training Officer.
"Training is such a huge part of the job for all firefighters, it makes sense for us here at McCook Community College to be a leader in that training," Zehnder said. He takes over an MCC program which currently has 19 fire science students enrolled.
The fire science classes taught at both North Platte and McCook and extended campuses means Mid-Plains Community College can focus its training with the volunteers in mind. The goal is to offering timely, customized, localized training for the area's many volunteer firefighters. Typically that means offering evening and weekend training. For instance, fire departments in the sandhills are requesting more training for grass fires.
MPCC's fire science program was established to train and develop competent technicians in fire protection, prevention and administration. It also provides training for personnel of insurance companies and industries involved in fire protection and prevention.
Current MCC Fire Science students are taking courses designed to ensure they possess the base knowledge necessary in Fire Science Technology. Satisfactory completion of prescribed 42.5 semester credit hours will lead to a Diploma. An additional 18 semester credit hours of the general education requirements will result in an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
Once completed, the fire science student will:
* Gain knowledge of hazards and related safety practices associated with fire science technology.
* Perform tasks related to fire protection, prevention, and administration.
* Demonstrate an understanding of personal and work characteristics that contribute to effective job performance.
* Use effective communication skills appropriate to the fire science industry.
* Apply the theory of fire science to specific jobs using critical thinking/reasoning skills and the ability to work independently.
* Use mathematical data and reasoning skills in relation to fire science technology.
* Prepare for certification/licensing.
Zehnder said once these students have completed the course, they will have employment opportunities in city, town, and rural salaried fire departments, government agencies, insurance companies, and hazardous materials handling.
Currently classes are offered at night and on Saturdays on a part-time basis over a three-year period, but Zehnder said eventually he would like MCC to offer a daytime program which would also appeal to traditional students, who would then have the opportunity to add EMT and Paramedic training to their portfolio.
"MCC has had phenomenal success with the accelerated Paramedic program, attributed in large part to the instructors Bob Molczyk and Kathy Dernovich," he said. MCC also gets students for the accelerated Paramedic program because it is a great way to fastrack their careers in a shorter amount of time.
Students from all over the United states and even internationally come to MCC for the Accelerated Paramedic program which condenses what traditionally is an 18-to-24 month program into an intense 12-week course.
"That's why I am so optimistic, based on the success of the Accelerated Paramedic program here, I believe we can make it a great fit with the fire science program," Zehnder said.
The one area where Tim sees his new position can have an immediate impact is in MCC's role in improving the training of firefighters currently working in full-time and volunteer fire departments throughout the region.
While he sees a great deal of opportunities to enhance the MCC's commitment to the fire service industry over the long-run, he believes the college can make an immediate impact in its ability to train area firefighters.
"The McCook Fire Department has been amazing since I have been here, and knowing we all have similar goals makes the transition a lot easier and confirms that I made the right decision in coming here," Zehnder said.
Zehnder first enrolled at Rochester Community College in 1986 where he played baseball and later attended Bemidji State University studying sports medicine, and then to the Fire Science Program/Fire Training Center at Duluth technical College in Duluth in 1993. He has more than 1,000 hours of Continuing Education.
He spent six years as a wildland firefighter, and between 1992-1998 worked for several organizations associated with the, United States Forest Services and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He worked two years as a full-time firefighter on the Payette National Forest as an Engine Foreman, worked as a contract employee for MNDNR on a hand crew in Idaho, two seasons as a wildland firefighter in Minnesota, one year in Oregon as Squad boss and a year in Florida as an Engine Foreman.
"My goal is to make McCook Community College the 'go-to" place to get a Fire Science degree," Zehnder said.
When the Minnesota school year is over, Zehnder said his wife Angie and their three daughters will move here. Their oldest daughter Shauna will graduate from high school this spring and enroll in classes this fall at MCC. Middle daughter Katy will be a freshman and youngest daughter Lilly a third-grader.
In his spare time he is an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoys all sports.