FIRE CADETS SHOW THEY KNOW THE DRILL.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

As more than 250 proud parents and admiring officials watched Saturday, fire academy cadets rappelled down a 70-foot building, put up ladders and performed a simulated rescue of a firefighter from a smoke-filled building.

The demonstrations were part of the graduation ceremony Saturday at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in downtown Los Angeles for 44 high school and community college students who participated in the 9-week FIRE (Fire Instruction, Recruitment and Education) Drill Tower Academy.

Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas praised the hard work of the cadets, many of whom aspire to become firefighters.

``For the man or woman who has to run into a burning building to look for a child, or carry a senior down the stairs through a smoke-filled room,'' knowing they might not come out alive, Cardenas said, ``that is certainly courage, and that is certainly bravery, but that is true love for your fellow man or woman.''

The Los Angeles Fire Department's FIRE Drill Tower Academy is a ``school-to-career'' after-school program for high school and community college students.

It is sponsored by the LAFD and four community colleges: East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Valley College and West Los Angeles College. More than 20 Los Angeles area high schools participate in the program.

``It was great!'' said James Bernardo, 19, of Arleta. ``I learned all the basics; I'm ready for whatever happens in this city. I'm prepared.

``I just have always wanted to be a firefighter, since I was a child,'' said Bernardo, who won an award Saturday for his work as captain of his squad and who currently attends LAVC.

``You see people saving lives, saving structures - it's a great job! Every day, it's something different.''

Sotero Cristerna, 19, of Pacoima went through the academy last year and came to watch his friends graduate. He also attends LAVC and plans to become a firefighter.

``They're respected, and I think it's a good job,'' Cristerna said. ``(The academy) prepares you for the different things firefighters do, and it helps you a lot.''

``I just thought it was call after call after call, but they do a lot of stuff in the firehouse, too.''

Battalion Chief Daren Palacios, FIRE program coordinator, said even if the cadets don't become firefighters, they will have learned discipline, teamwork and other skills that will help them in their future careers. But the series of academies, which start with students as young as ninth-graders, also serves as a recruitment tool for the fire department, particularly in attracting women and minorities.

Of the 44 cadets, 14 are female. One of those, Justine Valentin, 17, of San Pedro said she had no trouble with the physical demands of being a firefighter. Of course, she is also on her school's swim team and drill team and is a dancer.

``You can do it,'' she said. ``You just have to put your mind to it, practice and work out and try.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

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(1 -- 3) Cadet Vanessa Verduzco, top, gets ready to rappel down a seven-story tower during the Los Angeles Fire Department's FIRE Drill Tower Academy on Saturday. Kenneth Oden, left, smiles at his family after receiving his fire certificate during graduation. Squad 5's Shaun Barron, above, shares a moment - and his trophies - with girlfriend Lupe Gonzalez.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News