Igniting Futures: New Fire Science Lab Sparks Student Interest in Public Service Careers

Excitement was ablaze as students, educators, industry partners, and San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) leadership gathered at the Linda Vista Innovation Center (LVIC) to celebrate the grand opening of the new Fire Science Lab, a hands-on learning space designed to spark interest in high-demand, well-paying careers in the public service sector.

Created in close collaboration with CAL FIRE San Diego, the Fire Science Lab introduces middle and high school students to careers in fire science, emergency response, and public service. With a variety of scenario-based activities, students spend the day utilizing their own strengths and skills and pairing them with the fundamental skills and activities required for careers in the field, such as teamwork, rapid decision-making, situational awareness, and basic emergency response practices.

The new lab experience is the latest immersive SDCOE student experience at the LVIC that connects classroom learning to career paths, while helping students visualize themselves succeeding in these various high-wage industries.

“As we think of the public education experience, it’s important that we’re connecting student experience to economic opportunity,” explained Dr. Matthew Tessier, assistant superintendent of innovation for SDCOE. “As students go to school and they learn skills in the classroom, we want them to also be able to see how they can connect those skills to career opportunities in their own communities.”

The lab was designed with input from partners at CAL FIRE San Diego, ensuring the activities are both representative of real scenarios and situations, but also relevant to the skills needed to enter a career in fire science or emergency services.

“Working with the team at the LVIC has been a great partnership,” said Battalion Chief Patrick Odell. “There’s lots of different career paths in the fire service, not just firefighter, and we need people with different backgrounds and strengths for these roles. Our hope is that this lab shows kids there’s a job for them in this field.”

Students from Sunrise High School and Mountain Empire High School were the first in the county to experience the interactive lab. With the threat of wildfires a constant reality for their own community, the Fire Science lab shed light on what careers in a field really look like.

“It’s a really cool experience, especially for anyone interested in fire science or becoming a firefighter, but also for everyone else too,” said Abril Gastelum, a student at Mountain Empire High School who experienced the grand opening event with her class.

“It’s pretty cool, I love it over here doing these hands-on activities,” said fellow student Daniel Pragosa.

“We don’t have anything like this at our school, so I’m glad we were able to come down here and experience this lab,” added classmate Amar Amhasin.

The Fire Science lab advances SDCOE’s commitment to building belonging and preparing students for college, career, and beyond by providing equitable access to career-connected learning experiences. Through collaborative industry partnerships and practical real-world experiences, the lab empowers students to explore meaningful career pathways and envision themselves succeeding in jobs that serve their community.