By Houston Chronicle Staff
The Houston Chronicle
Copyright 2007 The Houston Chronicle Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
TEXAS CITY, Texas — San Jacinto College graduates Kelly Rothrock and Ganesa Warren made history when they recently became the first women to be promoted to the rank of captain in the Texas City Fire Department.
Rothrock and Warren said reaching such a milestone was a direct result of training and motivation they received at San Jac Central's Firefighter Training Academy.
"Without the San Jac academy there is no way I could have reached these goals," said Rothrock.
"I attended San Jac at 30 years of age when everyone else was 18-plus and fresh out of high school. Those students were way ahead of me as far as studying and retention.
Instructor lauded
"I have Lynwood Dunseith (chair of San Jac Central's fire protection technology department) to thank for helping me to learn how to study again," Rothrock said. "If it weren't for him setting aside time to tutor me, I wouldn't have made it. He knew how bad I wanted this. He refused to let me fail and I will forever be in debt to him for motivating me."
Rothrock was a single mother and going to school full-time. Dunseith was aware of her financial challenges and found former students to lend her their books because she couldn't afford to buy her own.
"It's caring people at San Jac like Mr. Dunseith who made it possible for me to prepare myself for the real world of firefighting."
Rothrock attended San Jac Central in 2000 and 2001, taking fire protection technology and emergency medical technician courses. She chose San Jac because of the college's reputation.
"I learned that San Jac does not train quitters and just when I thought that I couldn't push myself to the limit, there was always an instructor who would give me that extra `umph' and I would reach down deep and give the extra 10 percent that they would tell me that I still had to give," Rothrock said.
San Jac Central's Firefighter Training Academy is certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the state agency that governs paid fire departments.
Certification in 2 semesters
The fire academy's certification course is a one-year, two semester program including 592 hours of instruction (244 lecture hours and 348 skills/hands-on).
Subjects of study include handling of hoses and ladders, proper treatment of hazardous materials, rescue procedures, terrorism response, and more.
Although firefighting remains a male-dominated field, women can excel in the profession, according to Dunseith, who serves as chief training officer at San Jac's Firefighter Training Academy, as well as department chair.
"I firmly believe that anyone can be a firefighter," he said. "We treat all cadets the same regardless of gender. We have one real-world standard that applies to every cadet.
"Once a firefighter has all of the gear on, you can't tell anything about their ethnicity, gender, or age."
Warren, who graduated in 2001, had apprehensions at the start of the program, wondering how others would feel.
"The training provided a foundation that I continually build upon daily," Warren said.
"I had no prior knowledge or experience in any firefighting skill. The organization of San Jac's program curriculum was exceptional.
"The training made my entry into the fire department smoother, since I became familiar with equipment and job skills."
Warren now has clear plans for her career and has set some lofty goals. She said even more training from San Jac should help her to succeed. She plans to take fire science courses as well as emergency medical courses.
As Warren looks to the future, she hopes to some day serve as the first female fire chief for the Texas City Fire Department. She would also like to serve as a motivational speaker to women who are interested in the fire service.
Once students earn certification through San Jac's Firefighter Training Academy and then pass the state certification exam, taken at the conclusion of the course, students are eligible for employment by any paid fire department in Texas.
Medical training neededDunseith said medical training at one level or another will be required.
