Oziris LaBranch admits he has long been fascinated with superhero movies, especially the characters of Marvel Comics’ Spiderman and DC Comics’ Superman.

While researching potential careers with his high school counselors, he said he was awestruck when he discovered a brand-new, senior-only career training option at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” he said. “Firefighter … are you kidding? Sign me up. I want to be somebody’s hero.”

LaBranch, 18, a Mustang High School senior, is now two months away from completing CV Tech’s nine-month specialty program that provides students with the skills to join an area fire department.

Curriculum includes fire behavior and prevention, suppression techniques, rescue operations and the use of personal protective equipment. Embedded in the course are CPR, National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS) and physical fitness.

Jade Mattioda, 17, also a Mustang senior, recalls similar excitement when she discovered the program. Mattioda (rhymes with Toyota) had already enrolled in another career-preparation program at CV Tech when she began to question whether she was on the right path. One evening while scrolling social media, she had what she described as an “aha moment.”

“What popped up was that Firefighter was an option, and immediately, it hooked me,” she said. “My purpose is to serve other people, and I can clearly see how becoming a firefighter is the perfect fit.”

Mattioda said she was initially intimidated by the thought of intense heat from fires, not to mention the heavy bunker gear. Fully outfitted firefighters carry more than 50 pounds of equipment, including a respiratory tank, helmet and high-heat-resistant coats, pants, gloves and boots.

“I have learned that your brain will quit before your body quits,” she said. “I’ve never actually had to face my fears. It has tested me and pushed me. I found new limits, and this helped me grow.”

LaBranch said the program has opened his eyes to the importance of physical fitness.

“Strength isn’t everything,” he said. “You got to also be able to fit through a tiny hole potentially in order to rescue someone. Often, we lift weights at school, and I also go to the gym afterward.”

The sky is truly the limit for future plans, he said, with hopes of eventually becoming a fire chief. Mattioda’s career goals follow a different path.

“I want to become the person that younger me would want me there for in the hardest days,” she said. “As for my actual job, I want to become a Paramedic and a structural firefighter.”

She encourages anyone considering a career in public safety to make the call to enroll.

“You might fall in love with it like me,” she said. “When I first came to Canadian Valley, I didn’t even know Oziris, and I go to school with him at Mustang. What has transpired is a tight community, kind of like a fraternity.”

The Firefighter program will take a step upward on the proverbial ladder next year, according to instructor Grant Johnson. The school plans to construct a four-story fire tower that will permit a variety of real-life emergency training scenarios beyond the typical dumpster fire or burning car frame.

“Honestly, I’m a little jealous,” Mattioda said. “But that will be great for future students.”