NVFC Hosts Successful Training Events for Junior Firefighters

November 5, 2012

Over 150 individuals from six states participated

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program hosted two successful hands-on training events for junior firefighters and their program advisors this fall. The National Junior Firefighter Academy, sponsored by Tyco International, was offered at the Scott Safety headquarters in Monroe, NC, on September 29. Thanks to support from California Casualty and Spartan Motors, the NVFC brought the Academy to the Harrisburg (PA) Area Community College (HACC) on November 3.

More than 60 youth and almost 30 program advisors in North Carolina participated in classroom sessions, product demos, a facility tour, and hands-on training drills. Dozens of Individuals from four different states attended the Pennsylvania event, where they took part in a classroom session on leadership and future paths in the fire service, hands-on training drills, and a tour of the fire training facilities at the HACC Shumaker Public Safety Center. Drills focused on teaching juniors practical skills they could use on a fire scene in a safe, non-operational environment. Drills included EMS/First Aid, using a Stokes basket, thermal imaging camera operations, dummy drag, search and rescue, and more.

The Academies provided an excellent opportunity for youth and advisors to share ideas, learn new drills, and make connections with firefighters from other departments. The NVFC thanks all the youth and adult participants who helped make these events a great success, Scott Safety and HACC for hosting, and program sponsors Tyco International, Spartan Motors, and California Casualty for making them possible.

Stay tuned to the National Junior Firefighter Program web site for additional future training dates and locations. Click here for information on hosting an Academy at your department or training facility, or email juniors@nvfc.org.