Junior Firefighters

[AC9A]

What departments in Franklin County has a junior firefighter program, What age can they join and what does your department let them do around the station and on the fire ground ? I am very aware of Co. 9 junior program and what they can and can not do. I was just wondering about other programs.

[BigFoot]

Rick, I am looking through my notes on volunteer by-laws that cover junior programs.

I found one that helps with the overall adult program where if the prospective member is under 16, one of the parents must also join, be at the station any time the junior is there, and encouraged to take training. Once the junior is over 16, the parent does not need to be at the station, but must attend a monthly officer review with the junior member.

The organization that found that this took care of the "babysitting" that often happens with the under 16 crowd and some of the adults actually stuck once they got envolved.

You know as well as I that once this stuff gets in your blood, it just does not seem to drain. Just gets recycled every now and then.

I will continue to look for this model by-law or if someone else knows where it can be found. Please let me know.

Good Luck and MERRY CHRISTMAS
Don "BigFoot" Eshleman

[sexyemschic]

While we're on this subject, my understanding of the child labor law says that Jrs can't run after midnight & before 6AM, what is everyone elses interpretations & what do your departments follow??? Right or wrong I am interested in the general view of the county as a whole.

[fire3]

Hello All,

I found an interesting article on pafireman or pafirefighter.com. I am not sure which. It was a good article that has a personal interpretation, after reading the child labor law. It also has his dept sop on the juniors. I believe that most of this is interpretation. There isn't much they can do, but the experience is a good thing for them. I am all for juniors with specific limitations!

[AC9A]

Well ems chik given what I can remember about being a junior firefighter keeping in mind that this was some time ago, I think you are right about the times that they are permitted to respond. Except during the summer time I think you could respond at any time, at least this was the case when I was still a junior. Have a great day all.

[vol4life]

Well Rick we have our Jr program and the member can be installed at the age of 14. 14-15 year olds may not ride on any emergency calls unless they are on the apparatus during a training exercise and we are alerted to a call then they will respond with the piece. When the unit arrives the member is to stay with the unit. The member is allowed to attend all training events and participate to the level set by the state.
16-17 yr olds may ride the units on all calls providing they pass the required riding test and also successfully complete the pre-basic program held at the station every Thursday evening. This program is designed to teach them the concepts of Chain of command both Ops and Executive, respect (mam, sir, Chief, Pres, etc.), By-laws, SOG's, SOP's, PPE and it's care, Equipment location on all the units knowing the function of the equipment and it's care, riding positions and the responsibilities of those positions, Hose lays, pre-connects and their function, SCBA care and purpose, as well as EMS topics and numerous other areas the member can take part in. The first 5 through the Jr program that have moved on to Sr membership have so far turned out 1 Paramedic, 3 EMT's, 1 FF applied to go career, and we have 8 active members and of the 8, 2 are EMT's 2 in EMT class, 2 are going to make good FF and 2 are just starting. So we have been doing very well so far and the members have been working hard to make it worth their while.

[vol4life]

Straight from the Child Labor Law:

Section 7.3. Minor Volunteer Fire Company, Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Volunteer Rescue Squads and Volunteer Forest Fire Crew Member Activities.

(f) All other existing provisions of this act and the regulations promulgated there under affecting the employment of minors shall be applicable in all cases, including the requirements for employment certificates and the limitations on hours of employment: Provided, That a minor sixteen or seventeen years of age who is a member of a volunteer fire company who answers a fire call while lawfully employed and continues in such service until excused by the one acting as chief of that fire company shall not be considered in violation of this act for any part of the period so occupied: And further provided, That a minor who is fourteen or fifteen years of age, who is a member of a volunteer fire company and who performs the training or fire-fighting activities permitted for such minor under the provisions of this act between the hours of seven o'clock in the evening and ten o'clock in the evening before a day of school with written parental consent shall not be considered in violation of this act.


This allows for exceptions from the legal work hours. The times minors may respond are as follows

16-17 No limits

14-15 7am to 10 pm as long as they have written permission from their parents

[bambamCo4]

Hay everyone,

Just an update, Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue has lowered the age of our Junior Member program from 16 to 14.


BamBam
FF 153

[Pres 18]

Good Job Blue Ridge
We need to get these young adults early before they start to drive and run around with friends

[jrfirefighterco3]

over hear at da rescue3hose we have an excellent jr. program aside from there is a bit of drama(another story for another time) lol