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KACC Hosts MABAS 7 Fire Academy

MABAS stands for: Mutual Aid Box Alarm System - Regional Departments Support Each Other!

MABAS 7 Firefighter Candidates with Captain Hubly

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MABAS 7 Firefighter Candidates with Captain Hubly

The Kankakee Area Career Center (KACC) hosted a Ground Ladders Training session for the MABAS 7 Fire Academy.   MABAS 7 is a mutual aid association comprised of 17 area fire departments and fire protection districts.

The MABAS 7 Fire Academy provides hands-on didactic (method following a consistent scientific approach) and classroom training for young men and women who hope to become firefighters.  The Academy follows the basic firefighter curriculum as required by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal Division of Personnel Standards and Education.  The Academy (which runs for six months) holds classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings and afternoons.   

The 5-hour training session began with a candidate role-call and Pledge of Allegiance.  Instruction included PowerPoint presentations and practical hands-on skill drills such as one/two/three/four firefighter ladder lifts and carries. 

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Academy Coordinator,  Captain Aaron Hubly, of the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District was one of the instructors. Captain Hubly, a former KACC Alumnus, is also a lieutenant with the Limestone FPD.  His father, the late Chief Matthew Hubly was the Fire-Rescue-EMR instructor at KACC. Captain Hubly's brother, Noah, serves on the Manteno Fire Protection District. 

MABAS 7 Instructors - All of whom are KACC Alumni - Tom Didier, Aaron Hubley, Garfield Heid, Elliott Kraft, and Eric Docus - Click on this picture to open full gallery.

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MABAS 7 Instructors - All of whom are KACC Alumni - Tom Didier, Aaron Hubley, Garfield Heid, Elliott Kraft, and Eric Docus - Click on this picture to open full gallery.

The current academy consists of 20 students from Aroma Park FPD, Bourbonnais FPD, Bradley FD, Grant Park FPD, Kankakee FD, Limestone FPD, Manteno FPD, Momence FPD, Reddick FPD, and the St. Anne FPD.  Of the 20 students in the academy, 12 are current or former students in the KACC Fire/Rescue/EMS curriculum.  Pictured from L to R:  Travis Cox (Herscher HS), Cole Gagnon (Bishop McNamara HS), Nicholas Gliwa (Grant Park HS), Dylan Mercier (St. Anne HS), Hannah Allen (BBCHS), Dominick Dockus (Bishop McNamara HS), Kayla Karraker (Kankakee HS), Lucas Gibson (Kankakee HS), Kollin Krumwiede (Central HS), Matt Ryan (Manteno HS), Academy Coordinator Aaron Hubly), not pictured: Zane Metz (Momence HS).  

KACC is pleased to have had this opportunity and has extended an open invitation to facilitate future classes as well.