Juniors Being Pulled From School to Go on Calls

Hey, well i have to write a an editorial on an important topic. SInce i am a member of the Bagdad fire protection district junior program i chose the topic of juniors being pulled from school to go on calls. However i cant find really reliable information on the actual dept.'s that pull students from school so i need your help. I need:

statistics for how mant departments pull juniors from class

Regulations for what kind of call and if the time of the day makes a difference as to if they are pulled out of class

age limits on being pulled from class

if a drivers license is required to leave class

if missed work can be made up

excused absence?

if red/blue lights are given for personal vehicle use from school to a fire scene

what types of call they can respond to during school hours

and anything else you think might be relevant to my topic
Thank you so very much, stay safe
Jessica

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Permalink Reply by Marc on February 10, 2009 at 11:23pm

Jessica,

The only possible time that we as Explorers can get pulled from Class is when we are acivated (as a whole post)
This only happence for LAGRE incedents (mosty natural disasters: i.e. earthquakes, flooding and mudslides.)
Recently we had a down pour and an area in Long Beach became flooded. Although this was NOT our Departments Area, Several post were put on alert.
We have also had a Large mudslide last year where a whole hillside came down trapping 100+ ppl (our post was activated, one of the 3 post that were activated)***
We also get activiated during the Large brush fires. These fire Pop up between Aug. and the end of Oct. (Our post was one of only 2 posts that got activated for the Sylmar Brush fire this past October.)
Mostly we get activated friday-sunday because the Dept. knows that we are in school. Education always comes first (99.6%of the time.)

We get Text Messages from dispatch.
The texts state TOI: i.e. earthquake, brush fire.....
Area: which firestations first-in its in
Time: time of call
Who is activated: Exp post 68, post 94 & post 59 (example)

Then Exp's from my post contact me, we meet at the station (those that can show up, [must be more then 1/2 of our post]) get gear and taking either personal vehicals or FD vans and FD pickups we go to the call.

This is very rare, i have been an Explorer for more then 2 years and only been activated twice. ***(the mudslide activation we got cancelled enroute to.)

Marc Hurwitz
Explorer Capt. Marc Hurwitz
Los Angeles Fire Department
p.s. (most of us Carry Police/Fire Scanners so we can listen to the call enroute. THESE ARE NOT TO BE USED IN SCHOOL!!! MUST STAY IN HOUSE OR CAR)

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Permalink Reply by Charles Bowles on February 20, 2009 at 9:29am

they used to let brothers/sisters leave my old high school, but then they stopped it because they said that FF's were not "above the rules".

we often replied (to ourselves of course) that the principle wouldnt be saying the same if his house were on fire.

Didn't fix anything, naturally. But we then learned that calls would be answered whether we were there or not.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon on February 26, 2009 at 2:55pm

I'm homeschooled
but tons of my friends are in the local public, they all take there pagers to school if there FF's, there not alowed to leave to respond nor does the fire department accept it.
We have to have a C average in school or we get suspended from the fire company.
Being homeschooled,
Ihave a 2 hour break between two of my courses which are online,
and i went on a call during my break once
thats about it

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on February 26, 2009 at 4:28pm

It should NOT be done....NO-WAY...NO HOW...period....education is too important to have them pulled from class to go watch a fire...they certainly shouldn't be fighting it....Their day will come....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Norman E. Flanders on February 26, 2009 at 5:29pm

Their education is most important over the fire department, fire calls or fire department activities.

Our junior firefighters are not permitted to leave or miss school to respond to alarms. They must maintain passing grades in all subjects to remain active as junior firefighters. If requested they must show us the report card to insure they are complying. This is made clear to the junior members and their parents/legal guardian at the time they apply for membership. It's also made clear to the parents/legal guardian that any problems at home involving the fire department the home life activities are a bigger priority.

Juniors are mainly used for our water source operating the portable pumps with a LT. They do how ever get additional training on our equipment and apparatus. They are really restricted on what they can do by OSHA until age 18.

We welcome juniors and strongly support their educational goals.

Stay safe, train often and share knowledge.

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Permalink Reply by Zachary McCreary on March 23, 2009 at 6:57pm

Personally i think that is awesome! i would love to get pulled out of my class to go on a call because i would love to go on every call there is. Hell i would live at the fire station if i could but school gets in the way of that lol.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon on March 31, 2009 at 2:11am

We get pulled out all the time. We have 4 jrs at our school so we get a truck and in the result of any call even a Medical call we are asked to attend the scene. All work we miss while on call is exempt. I love it!

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Permalink Reply by walt on March 31, 2009 at 4:42am

My hat is off to all the JR. members. our dept does not have jr members the scary part is giving lights and sirens to kids barely old enough to drive this is not a good practice the fd and the kids parents are responsible for anything that might happen (god williling nothing will ever happen to these honorable jr members) just my 2 cents worth.

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Permalink Reply by Bob on March 31, 2009 at 7:18am

hey Jess ,

here IN NSW Australia we dont pull the JNRS from class ,
no one has red/blues on the own cars ,

the age to respond to a fire call is 16 which is for bush/grass fires and for Car Accidenrts and Strucaual fires it is prefered that they be atleast 18 but its not all wasy possible

cheers hope this help

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on March 31, 2009 at 7:39am

Well i know that in jersey jrs. are not to leave school They must have passing grades to maintain active status being a jr member , no pagers in school

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Permalink Reply by Ken Warr on March 31, 2009 at 8:26am

Absolutely no way, there is nothing a Jr member can do for me on the fireground thats worth missing school. I know you all want to go on every call and whatnot but your education is the most important thing! Actually I am pretty sure there is a state law in NJ that Jr members CANNOT do anything on the fireground....ANYTHING. Not that anyone follows this law, but it's only a matter of time until a lawsuit changes all of that. Goddamn lawyers! But back to the topic at hand, short of hitting a hydrant, I really have no use for the Jr members until the fire is placed under control and then depending on what my officers want maybe take 1 or 2 to rip a wall apart or something. Then theres the packing of the hose...gotta love those Jrs for that!!

P.S. I was a Jr for 2 years so I did all of this bitchwork and I know how you guys feel but your edcuation is # 1

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Wendt on March 31, 2009 at 9:49am

well, me, being homeschooled, am allowed to go to calls under a few conditions. a. my dad has to go (guz otherwise, id have no ride lol) and b. i cant do much at a scene if my advisor isnt there. but i am allowed to go to calls, have my pager in school, and be excused from class. lol.

and i did talk to the superintendent of my school district (being that he is my 2nd cousin), he said that id be allowed to have my pager in school, but i just cant leave to go to calls b/c it is out of our district. if it is a structure fire, i am.