Firefighter Dustin Oyola Celebrates 20 Years of the FDNY High School

For more than 20 years, the Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety has served as an important pipeline for youth who are looking to careers in public service.

Firefighter Dustin Oyola of Engine 202, a 2013 graduate, is testament to the school’s motto, “Living the Dream.” “I’ve always wanted to be a Firefighter since I was a kid,” recalled Oyola. “When I was younger, there was a fire in my building, and I was seeing all the firefighters go in. I was like, that’s what I want to be.” Oyola says he made the most of the training and skills offered by the school, including the Summer Youth Leadership Academy. After graduating, he earned his EMT certification through SEMSA (Youth Summer EMS Academy).

After several years in the private sector, he joined the FDNY as an EMT in 2015 and was promoted to Firefighter in 2018. “I am living the dream. The thing I live most about being a firefighter is coming in, the camaraderie, being with the brothers and sisters,” said Oyola. “You come to work, you don’t know what to expect but you know it’s going to be a good day working.”