Junior Firefighter Program
 

Starting a youth junior firefighter program within a fire department is an opportunity to increase enthusiasm and morale. Bringing in new enthusiasm with youths and rekindling it with veterans, will better serve those you protect and may contribute to the overall future of the fire department. Recruiting the younger generation from the community and utilizing their time and effort, in return for training and structure, is one of the many great traditions that help make the fire service what it is today.

Much of the focus of a junior firefighter program will consist of learning about emergency operational methods and techniques as they pertain to firefighting, fire prevention and emergency medical services, and how the process of mastering these skills makes for a well rounded young adult. Program members will be allowed to participate in basic training classes and will perform routine duties such as caring for department equipment and apparatus. As members progress and demonstrate competency, they may be given more responsibility and consider the fire/rescue field as a possible career path. The fire department will keep safety at the forefront of all department operations and activities, for both the physical and psychological safety of the youth and adult members.

To become a junior firefighter, the applicant must be between the ages of 14 and 17. They must be enrolled in school and meet the attendance requirements of federal, state and local agencies. This also includes student enrolled in an approved home or private school program. A completed application and parental consent form is required. Applicants will be furnished a copy of the junior firefighter program guidelines prior to signing any documents. Junior firefighters will not be allowed to participate in any fire department activity during regular school hours unless it is part of an authorized school function.

Youth age 14 will only be permitted to attend classroom training and observe the skill and/or hands-on portion of the training.

Youth age 15 to 17, when properly equipped with personal protective equipment, (coat, pants, boots, helmet, gloves, etc.), will be permitted to participate in classroom and/or skills/hand-on training. They must complete a minimum of twenty three (23) hours training before they will be allowed to participate in certain support activities at an incident scene.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming a junior firefighter, contact the Trigg County Firefighters Association or any member of a Trigg County fire department for more details about the program and how to obtain an application and parental consent form.