Class 56 of Fresno City College’s Fire Academy is planning a trip to New York from Sept. 9 – 13, 2021. 

The purpose of the trip is for Class 56 to participate in a 9/11 ceremony & parade, commemorating the attack’s 20th anniversary. 

During the trip, the class also plans to go to the 9/11 Memorial to learn more and honor those who lost their lives that day. 

In preparation for the trip, Class 56 has done quite a bit to raise money for the trip, according to Peter Cacossa, Director of FCC’s Fire Academy.

With an issued flyer, select Panda Express and Chipotle Restaurants in Clovis and Fresno donated a portion of buyers’ meals to the Fire Academy’s fundraiser. 

In addition, the academy has been selling lanyards and has done numerous car washes, two of which helped the academy raise over $3,000 each, according to the fire academy’s Instagram post. 

The cost of the trip came out to be $800 per student, for an overall total of around $30,000 with flight and hotel expenses included for 27 students, according to Cacossa. 

Cacossa also added that any money left over from the trip will be donated to people affected by 9/11.

The trip to NY was green lit in a meeting with the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees. 

If the academy runs into COVID related issues and the trip is cancelled, Cacossa and the board of directors decided that a refund would be issued.

Three students in Class 56, Zayne Schallberger, Josh Munioz and Adan Viveros, expressed their excitement for the trip and how much of an honor it is. 

Schallberger said he can’t wait to, “Pick the minds of the other firefighters in NY. The separate ways they fight fires in NY and their stories of how they became firefighters.” 

Schallberger really liked the opportunity to go to NY with his class because he has never been. 

Viveros expressed how much of an honor it is to be part of this trip and how grateful he is. It will also be his first time in NY.

Munioz said this will be his second time going to the Ground Zero Memorial in NY and expressed his passion towards 9/11 participation. 

Ground Zero is the 16-acre 9/11 Memorial occupying the site where the former World Trade Center Complex and Twin Towers once stood. 

While in NY, Class 56 also plans to have some fun by visiting sites like the Statue of Liberty and going to a Yankees game.

In addition, the whole class will participate in a burpee challenge, which consists of a combination of push-ups and coming up for a jump done in sequence repeatedly. 

The challenge will be recorded live on Instagram with the Class 56 competing against City of Fresno Firefighters.

This will show respect for the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11 and commemorate their bravery and sacrifice, according to Cacossa.