The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Pennsylvania Volunteer Departments Turn to High Schools for Recruitment
PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat
DAVIDSVILLE - With declining ranks hurting volunteer fire departments nationwide, local firefighters are reaching out to high school students.
Volunteers from Conemaugh, Ideal, Hollsopple and Jerome fire departments on Thursday pitched the benefits of joining the fire service to more than 500 Conemaugh Township Area students at the high school auditorium.
They're looking to pass the torch to the next generation.
"There are guys involved in the fire department for 25-30 years and they don't have too much time left," firefighter Chad Knauer said. "I want the fire department to be here for the next 150 years."
The volunteers are recruiting junior firefighters ages 14 to 18.
From there, they can blossom into professional firefighters, EMS personnel, paramedics, nurses and water rescue members, firefighters said.
"We nurture them for the next four years through training and practicing the skills they need to become firefighters," said Robert Simonsick, chaplain for the Conemaugh company.
The 30-minute assembly included a video and display of firefighting gear.
The need for firefighters and EMS personnel is pushing recruitment to center stage, said Scott Grahn, manager of the Somerset County Swift Water Rescue Team.
"That's why we're here today," Grahn said.
Grahn helped student Shawn Dufrene slip into a life vest.
The 17-year-old said she would be interested in firefighter training.
"I think it would be useful to me," she said. "I'm more of a pacifist. I would rather help save lives."
Teenagers and adults wanting to know about the fire service can attend an open house. The doors will be open at the Conemaugh Fire Department from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Young people are being encouraged to attend.
"A lot of kids are afraid (of joining)," Simonsick said. "They just need to come in and try it out and see if it works for them. That's the big thing."
Copyright 2009 The Tribune-Democrat
December 4, 2009
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
-
Right, I understood that and was commenting on your taking down your discussion as opposed to it haven been taken down the the webchief.
-
Permalink Reply by timothy fento on
-
ok sorry but some of the questions i had asked. wasn't asked in the proper way i'm sorry for that i was asking questions because i didn't think my dept. was doing thing the right way
-
Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
-
John,
Actually, there is virtually zero difference between the activities in a Sea Cadet program and the activities described in the above article. "Reading between the lines" is one thing, jumping to conclusions is quite another. I don't automatically assume that every discussion concerning junior firefighters is just another "Should juniors have blue lights on their pov's?" or "Should juniors be allowed to fight fires?" discussion. Those discussions have no bearing on what is being talked about in this story about recruiting at high schools.
-
-
yes they do chief they do go and on first out trucks do i agree with it? NO!!! but i'm not he chief so i have no say so
-
Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
-
WP,
I know you are not jumping to conclusions, but there is a difference when you have programs like Explorers through Learning for Life and those junior/cadet programs with established set of rules in place, such as the same set of rules that Sea Cadets would follow. There is a structure and clearly shows what is and isn't acceptable.
I understand that it is easy to read between the lines, but the difference between Sea Cadets, and really even the Learning for Life Explorer programs are there to "give a taste" of the job to see if this would be something that one may want to pursue. Whereas many other junior type of programs are there as a stepping stone onto the department. (start as a junior, turn 17,18 whatever, you are a member) That is not how the Learning for Life and Sea Cadet programs were established, nor how they run.
When I was an explorer, I didn't just move onto the dept when I turned of age. If I was a Sea Cadet, I couldn't just enter the military when I turned of age. Not saying this is how these depts would do things, but just stating there is a difference between Sea Cadets and recruiting for the military and this recruitment for FF's.
-
-
I guess really in the end the difference is between recruitment and training. I don't know how these depts do things, but my guess is to get HS kids to join such a program and eventually become members. Whereas Sea Cadets and Learning for Life, are there to give a taste, when one reaches the cutoff age, they automatically don't become full members.
-
-
penrhyn,
I do not see this as a union or paid v vollie thing. What I do think and more than a few agree with, is that using children on the fireground for any purpose is wrong and inexcusable.
I understand the desire to attract new members and to interest (and keep them interested) in becoming a firefighter (and eventually a new member in the sponsoring dept.) but these juniors should be learning only at an approved and safe level which, in my opinion does not include the fireground.
I think the biggest problem that I have is that there are departments out there that see no harm in allowing an under 18 member to perform as a full firefighter, possibly including being interior.
There was an earlier discussion (now deleted) that complained of juniors refusing to get off of an engine for actual adult firefighters and instances of these juniors even taking other real firefighters gear to go on a call. That a department would allow and condone such egregious behavior suggest, at least to me, that they would indeed use children on the fireground and possibly in a capacity that would expose them to very real danger. It is examples such as they that provoke an immediate negative response to the issue of juniors et al.
-
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
-
Timothy:
Please deliver a message to your trustees/commissioners for me.
Tell me that they don't have enough money in the umbrella portion of their insurance policy. They need to add at least another 20 million to cover the potential for loss of life to one of their "explorers".
Or, the insurance company may choose not to provide coverage to anyone under a certain age. Regardless of their considerable prowess.
TCSS.
Art
-
-
sorry but i got my answer and NOT from you so i guess that means you don't have a clue in hell
-
-
you because you were implying i started this topic
-
-
Tim:
I don't think Jack was saying that you started the topic. It is a NEWS story that we have all been commenting on. It was started by FFN WebTeam.
Perhaps, you took down "comments"?
I can't speak for Jack, but there is a misunderstanding that should be resolved.
Please continue.
Art
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
