Gurnee teen trains to become firefighter

The testing to become a firefighter is grueling, both physically and mentally, but 17-year-old Jessica Shannon believes she is ready for the challenge.

Shannon, of Gurnee, took first place in the state for her firefighting abilities and will go to the national SkillsUSA Championship in June. She has been learning what it takes to be a firefighter through classes at the Lake County Technology Campus all year and was happy to test her skills in the competition.

“I was pretty excited,” Shannon said. “But I was kind of shocked when they said I won.”

Her teacher at the technology campus, retired Libertyville firefighter Craig Richardson, said he is not at all surprised by her success.

“She's excellent in all of her skills,” Richardson said. “I'd put her up against any firefighter out there.”

Shannon will compete in the national SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City, Mo., June 20-24, where she will be tested on safety, fire control, working with ladders, ropes, knots and providing emergency medical care. SkillsUSA is a national organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupations.

Shannon will also be the first student sent from the technology campus to compete in the national competition for firefighting.

“It's a huge honor for one of our students to qualify, especially a female,” Richardson said.

He added that more women are getting into fire service than in the past, and Shannon's skills and competitive nature have made her stand out among her peers, no matter the gender. Shannon was also named Student of the Year by her teachers in the firefighting program.

Richardson said they have reviewed in class many of the skills Shannon will need to compete, but that she'll need to keep working out to build up the endurance and strength necessary for the competition.

For example, at the state competition Shannon was asked to wear firefighter gear, carry a hose on her shoulder as she went up a ramp nearly 100 feet, carry it back down and then drag a dummy 50 feet as a simulation for what real firefighters go through on the job.

As part of the national competition, Shannon will take the Candidate Physical Ability Tests that are required by most fire departments when candidates apply to be professional firefighters.

Although Shannon found her passion for firefighting this year, she now hopes to make it her future career.

“I just like helping people,” she said. “I took the class because I thought it would be something fun to do, but I found out that I really, really liked it.”