Junior Firefighters Provide Support While They Gain Experience

By Nancy K. Crevier

“Every year we give a donation to the fire department, but I have never seen the passion these young kids have.” Newtown resident Mary Beth Hemingway was referring to her teenage daughter’s friend, Ryan Clark, who is a member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department, and the other young people who make up the town’s junior firefighter teams.

Having seen firsthand the young man’s dedication and love of the volunteer association, Ms Hemingway was disheartened to hear from Ryan that there are presently no underclassmen serving on most of the fire departments. When fall rolls around and the young firefighters answer the call of college, older members of the departments will have to take on tasks that they have come to rely upon the junior members to do.

None of the departments in town actively recruit junior firefighters, relying instead on word of mouth or encouragement from involved family members to spark an interest.

“I’ve seen how much these kids do, and it would be a shame if these [junior firefighters] were the last of them,” said Ms Hemingway.

“It’s a big part of my life,” said Ryan of his decision to join Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department a year ago September. “My dad was a firefighter and I always wanted to join.”

As a member under the age of 18, Ryan is considered a full member of the Sandy Hook department, said Chief Bill Halstead, but is restricted by federal and state safety laws as to what duties he can carry out. That does not mean that what junior firefighters are allowed to do goes unappreciated.

“Anyone can join the Sandy Hook department at age 16,” said Chief Halstead, who also serves as fire marshal for the Town of Newtown. “Right now I believe we have five members under the age of 18. There is never a rhyme or reason as to how many are on the staff. It changes all the time,” he said.

Without new junior members, it will cut down on the support staff available at emergencies. While they cannot enter a burning building, the department counts on the trained younger members to do backup work at the scene. This can mean feeding hose to the firefighters near the burn, or simply acting as runners for extra equipment.

“It is a loss,” said Chief Halstead, “especially when they all graduate at once.”

There are one or two points of frustration with being a junior member, said Ryan, such as state restrictions, or having to wait to be able to drive and run the fire trucks at the scenes. But overall, the experience has been great this past year, he said. “I wish I could keep going [after graduation.] The calls are exciting and it’s fun to be around the department.”

It is possible, said Ryan, that he will return to the fire department after attending college to study fire science and fire technology, but his ambition to become a professional firefighter may prevent that from happening.

“It feels good to be able to help people,” he said. “People appreciate you.”

There might be an indication that a person is ready to dedicate themselves to volunteering with the fire department, said Ryan. “If you look at a fire truck whenever one goes by and want to be on it, you know it’s for you.”

Hawleyville Fire Department Chief Paul Basso and Captain Joe Masso of Dodgingtown Fire Department agree that junior members, or cadet members as they are referred to in Dodgingtown, play important roles in the departments.

“We never really have a lot of junior members,” said Chief Basso. “One or two at a time is not uncommon, and we have only one young man now, who is 17, and probably moving on to college next year.”

“The junior firefighters do tasks that free up the more experienced interior firefighters,” explained Captain Masso. “They can set up lighting at a scene, act as a go-fer, take equipment off the trucks, and help set up a staging area or set up for extrication at an accident scene. Sometimes it’s as simple as scene support at brush fires — ‘Go get ice and Gatorade,’” he said. Dodgingtown has not had a new junior member join for nearly two years, and that member, one of the few female firefighters in town, has turned 18 and is presently away at college.

“[Junior] membership goes in waves, overall,” said Captain Masso. “We are open to all young men and women. They need written parental permission and a current physical, but we encourage anyone interested to give it a try.”

Like the other departments in town, Newtown Hook and Ladder utilizes junior members not only for support, but at fire prevention events at the elementary schools. “It’s good to have the young firefighters there. The little kids look up to them and it is good experience for them,” said Chief Ray Corbo.

Presently, he said, there are three members under age 18 with Hook and Ladder. “It’s no different recruiting junior members than for other volunteers. We accept anyone 16 years of age and above. We do a police background check on all volunteers, no matter what their age, and a motor vehicle check, as well. All new members are on probation the first six months.”

The junior members are valuable he said, but he does regret that many are unable to commit to the department by the time they are old enough to take Firefighter One Training, allowing them to become full members. “If we get five [junior members] we’re lucky if we can keep one long term,” Chief Corbo said.

What makes a good candidate for the fire department? “We are looking for kids who are savvy. We try to give everyone a chance. They have to be responsible and realize that people’s lives may be at stake. Professionalism is very important. When they have that jacket on, they are representing the department,” Chief Corbo offered. New members are encouraged to give as much time as possible, to answer every call that they can. “There’s a lot to learn,” he said.

For Newtown High School senior Scott Nichols, serving on Hook and Ladder has been a dream come true. Scott, who joined in July 2005, has “always wanted to be a firefighter. My uncle is a New York City firefighter and he used to let me ride on the truck with him. I love it.”

He definitely feels useful, not used, as a junior member. “Being a junior member isn’t much different from being an adult member. I’ve done things from CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] to cutting cars apart at accidents.”

Scott, who hopes to attend the Coast Guard Academy after graduation, would like to see other youth from Newtown join Hook and Ladder, for many reasons, not least of all being that it is the youngest members of the department who tend to be given the cleaning detail at the fire house. “With no younger firefighters, [the present junior members] still are the ones who get stuck with it,” he added with good humor.

In a more serious note, Scott said, “The biggest thing about being a firefighter is that you have to be dedicated. Give it all, or nothing.”

Wayne Ciaccia is the United Fire Company of Botsford fire chief, and the only department in town whose junior membership will not be decimated by the spring high school graduation. “We have five or so junior members now,” said Chief Ciaccia, “and I believe that three of them are underclassmen. As a matter of fact, we had one new junior join us just last month.”

Chief Ciaccia values the young people in his department. “They do all kinds of things. About a year ago, we had one junior firefighter at a fire on High Rock Road who had trained with us often. He ran and laid down the hose line, ran back to the truck and hooked up the tanker to the engine. He knew what to do. We like to let them do as much as they are allowed to do.”

More junior members are welcome to join the Botsford department, said Chief Ciaccia. “There is usually someone at the fire house every evening, especially on Tuesdays. Anyone who is thinking about joining can stop in. We have applications there.”

To volunteer, all of the leaders recommend stopping in or calling the departments. For Dodgingtown, call 270-4386; Hook and Ladder, call 270-4383; Sandy Hook, call 270-4392; Botsford, call 270-4388; Hawleyville, contact Chief Basso at the fire house on Route 25.

Finally, said Ryan Clark, “If you want to make a difference and help people in their times of need, firefighting is a good thing.”