According to officials, a group of firefighters were getting ready to go out on a call when they noticed he wasn’t there. That’s when they went to his room and found him unresponsive at around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Crews tried to revive him, but it was too late.

 

It is unclear how the firefighter died. However, officers do not suspect foul play.

The students, under the guidance of Anderlitch, repaired oil leaks, faulty brakes, pulley systems, wiring, alternator and manual transmission and other smaller repairs. Once the project was complete, the engine roared for the first time in over a decade.

“I’m really proud of the students in the class because they really did a lot of the work themselves,” Alderlitch said. “These are 16 and 17-year-olds getting their hands dirty and learning with hands-on experience, just like in the real world.”

But for the educators at HCISD, the project represents a learning model school districts across the country are beginning to implement. Project-based learning is centered around giving students hands-on experience in a particular field.