Kia Makes Donation for Firefighter Training Academy

Kia Motors' U.S. division has donated 26 Borengo SUVs to the RioHondo Regional Truck Academy, with the project being both the carmaker’s and the Academy’s largest vehicle doantion to date.The Academy is an intensive training site that offers courses destined to professional firefighters, with the trainings educating emergency responders from Southern California about life-saving techniques.

The first project involving the vehicles is a two-day, eight-hour training coursed commenced on June 16 designed for advanced auto extrication techniques. The course is open to firefighters from all over the U.S., teaching them about advances in vehicle technology, including airbag functions and offering them instructions for using rescue tools to quickly remove passengers during an emergency situation.

"We know many government agencies are in need of support during these difficult times and providing Rio Hondo Regional Truck Academy with Kia vehicles equipped with the latest automotive technology for the education and safety of emergency responders is the ideal fit,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, Kia Motors America. “The training offered by Rio Hondo is invaluable and providing vehicles as training tools further supports the Academy’s efforts.”

“Without this donation from Kia Motors we would not be able to do this training,” said David Kang, Truck Academy Instructor for Rio Hondo Regional Truck Academy. “The use of these Kia SUVs will allow firefighters from all over Southern California to learn the latest in vehicle technologies and ultimately save lives.”