Bailey Biggs, left, and Hunter Newby are juniors in high school with plans to become firefighters. 

Suited in sets of heavy firefighter turnout gear, students at Limestone County Career Technical Center braved smoke, heat and fire Wednesday as part of their fire science training.

Hunter Newby, 16, of East Limestone and Bailey Biggs, 17, of West Limestone were two students undergoing training inside an Alabama Fire College burn trailer under the direction of instructor Brandon Wilson and the watchful eyes of Athens Fire & Rescue.

The two high school juniors are already working toward a career that could take as little as five weeks of training after graduation. That’s opposed to a 22-week program for firefighters, who have no technical school training or certification.

Newby has been enrolled in the fire science program for two years. This year, he will receive his volunteer firefighter certification.

Then, as a senior, he will be able to receive his EMT-Basic license through the tech school.

After graduation, he plans to undergo a five-week bridge program at Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa. “At that point, I will be certified to work for any paid department throughout the state of Alabama,” Newby said.

Some of Limestone’s fire departments sponsor students in the fire science program.

Newby’s turnout gear is sponsored by East Limestone Volunteer Fire Department. Departments can also sponsor a student’s training by paying for the five-week courses at the Alabama Fire College.

Students can start repaying the favor when they turn 18 and are eligible to volunteer with the department full time. Right now, that is Newby’s plan.

“We train throughout the year with the Fire College,” said Newby, adding once a year they travel to Tuscaloosa. Training includes fighting live fires, extrication, search-and-rescue, forcible entry and even rappelling off four-story buildings among other procedures.

Biggs has also been in the course for two years. His plan is much like that of his friend. He wants to get his EMT-Basic license and then attend Calhoun Community College where he plans to receive paramedic training.

Afterwards, he will also head to Tuscaloosa for the five-week certification. “I want to be a paid firefighter,” Biggs said. “Then — on my off days — hopefully be a paramedic.”

For Biggs, his career choice is a tradition. His dad and other members of the family have been involved with volunteer fire departments in the past. “I want to keep the family tradition going,” he said, adding he will probably volunteer at Piney Chapel Volunteer Fire Department.

Newby and Biggs are proud to be part of LCCTC and the fire science program.

“This is a new 27,000-square-foot facility that we got this year and it’s been great,” Newby said. “It’s really helped us with training and been a great improvement.”

The student’s next big wish item is a fire engine that can be housed at the facility.

“The program continues to grow,” Newby said, adding Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk, Principal Vince Green, Instructor Randall McCrary and Wilson — who is also a firefighter at Athens Fire & Rescue — started it all three years ago. “They got it up and going and it’s continued to grow since then.”

The hands-on training means a lot to the students.

“We actually see what it’s going to be like,” Biggs said.

“It’s real exciting,” Wilson said. “They are putting on everything that professional firefighters and volunteers have. It’s a big advantage for them to get a lot of that training in high school.”