Industry Partnership Supports Hands-On Firefighter Training at Ben Clark Education Center

A collaboration between Moreno Valley College, CAL FIRE, and LKQ Pick Your Part is providing Fire Academy cadets with training that strengthens rescue skills used in vehicle extrication scenarios.

Through the Fire Academy at the Ben Clark Education Center, cadets participate in Common Passenger Vehicle Rescue Technician training using vehicles donated by LKQ Pick Your Part. The program allows students to practice stabilization, extrication, and patient access under conditions that mirror emergency response.

Fire Captain John Begg of CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire recently recognized the partnership, noting that access to real passenger vehicles allows cadets to develop essential rescue skills in a controlled environment that reflects the demands of emergency response.

"The ability to train on real passenger vehicles is invaluable," Begg said. "LKQ Pick Your Part's support allows our cadets to develop the rescue and extrication skills they'll need from day one in the fire service. This kind of community partnership is exactly what bridges classroom instruction with real-world readiness."

The partnership connects classroom instruction with applied training, reinforcing technical proficiency and decision-making under pressure. LKQ Pick Your Part's ongoing vehicle contributions support the academy's ability to deliver practical preparation for students entering the fire service.