History

In the photo at right, Beaty, football coach; Chief Phil Pifer (seated); Robert Padock assistant chief, and Norman Harris, coordinator of technical vocational education at Bakersfield college (right), meet to plan college and on the job training for city fire department trainees.

The Bakersfield College Fire Science program was first set up by joint efforts of chief Phil Pifer of the Bakersfield fire department and Norman Harris, coordinator of technical vocational education at Bakersfield college in 1956.

A special curriculum was designed for Bakersfield city firefighters which included academic courses required for an associates of arts degree, the on the job training included the use of all types of fire fighting equipment, and the use of motorized fire equipment under emergency conditions.

This fire science program developed into a in service program for all fire agencies in Kern county. The main agencies involved were Bakersfield fire department and Kern county fire department.