Firefighters-in-Training Battle Propane Blaze
"You're not here because you have to be, you're here because you want to be," Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino said to more than a dozen volunteer firefighters in Valhalla today.
With high interest for firefighting opportunities in younger members of the community, the county has made a recent push to create accomodating training schedules geared toward college and high school-aged students.
"Many young people are ready to serve their communities as volunteer firefighters, but they are unable to obtain the necessary training because going to school in the area or simply to other commitments during the years, "said Astorino.
Today, volunteers as young as 15 worked 27 hours to complete the Firefighter II course that "while preparing firefighters to respond to emergencies as a team leader," according to the Department of Emergency Services (DES) Commissioner Deputy John Cullen.
Prior to completing the Firefighter II course and becoming eligible interior firefighters, volunteers must also pass an 87-hour Firefighter I course that offers more introductory skills in the classroom and using the training apparatus.
Last year, the DES reported a total of 203 vounteer firefighters from around the county completed Firefighter I. There are currently 23 students in the summer Firefighter I class from the Bedford, Briarcliff Manor , Chappaqua, Croton-on-Hudson, Harrison, Hartsdale, Irvington, Katonah, Town of Mamaroneck, Mohegan Lake, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Somers, Tarrytown and Valhalla Fire Departments.
The Firefighter II class meeting today has 14 students from Briarcliff Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Elmsford, Katonah, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester, Rye and Sleepy Hollow.
"Traditionally these classes were held at night in three-hour segments that may well stretch out over an eight-week period," said Cullen.
With feedback from local departments that the traditional structure was not conducive to interested college students' schedules, "A decision was made at DES to conduct daytime classes during college breaks to better serve these members," said Cullen, pointing out the summer courses last just 10 days. "They now have trained members to respond when they are home on breaks."
18-year-old Peter Kennedy of Rye, who is a full-time student at SUNY Maritime, will soon be one of those members.
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