Junior Fire Departments

[trevor911e]

My fire department, BBKVFD, in Nova Scotia, has a "junior" branch to it. Anyone age 14-18, who lives in out coverage area,who has an interest in the fire service can apply to join.

There are a few of these "junior" departments in Nova Scotia. It offers an excellent chance for departments to train possible future fire fighters. Our Juniors train at the same level as our regular department does. We are currently in the process of teaching NFPA level one material to our juniors.

I'm not sure if this is a common type of thing in other deparments around Canada. I'd just thought I'd mention it as this forum needed something in it.

[FLASHOVER05]

As far as I know there isn't anything like this In the GTA... There really should be more emphasis on the emergency services around...

[firescout]

there is a type of junior fire program in the GTA that is put together by Scouts Canada and the toronto fire department, this program is also offered with a medical focus in many other citys. check out http://www.toronto.ca/fire/recruitment/venturers.htm

[firewhirly]

We have a few junior members in our dept. Think it's a great way to involve kids in the community. They can take part in the majority of trainings and can respond to all calls. They are NOT allowed anywhere near the hotzone, but can do all kinds of other things.. A few develope some rather interesting "attitudes" but does't take long for them to get adjusted... hehehehehe

[Michael13]

We just started a program 3 months before Christmas. Working out good so far. They have their own training night, coveralls and old gear to wear. They check the trucks just like we do on training nights, so now the trucks are checked 3 times a month which is good. They dont wear SCBAS in a hotzone, but they have tryed search and rescue techniques and RIT teams and on and on. They seem to be having fun and are enjoying it. It a great way to train new recruits. One question- If you have had a memeber since they were 14 and they are hired when they turn 18 is a probationary period still nessicary???

[FLASHOVER05]

It is a really great thing that people are able to get into this type of program... I would love to do that and get some experience... The only experience I get is what I pay for through schooling.

[mutts252]

One question- If you have had a memeber since they were 14 and they are hired when they turn 18 is a probationary period still nessicary???
thats a really good point... i was wondering the same thing reading this thread.

that, and wishing i'd been able to get involved like that when i was 14! LOL :D sounds like a fantastic program for departments to run... liability would be a potential headache, but i think well worth it to get people interested, involved, and trained early (liability in a percieved legal sense, not real physical risk to them)

[Michael13]

thats a really good point... i was wondering the same thing reading this thread.

that, and wishing i'd been able to get involved like that when i was 14! LOL :D sounds like a fantastic program for departments to run... liability would be a potential headache, but i think well worth it to get people interested, involved, and trained early (liability in a percieved legal sense, not real physical risk to them)

Yep exactly. Something always happens when you think you are perfectly safe. The juniors dont go in hotzones, but one terrible case I heard was of a junior being killed by the truck backing into the hall. We all wonder how in the world that happens, but it does. But when theres 12 suger filled crazy kids running around your hall, it can happen.

[mutts252]

Yep exactly. Something always happens when you think you are perfectly safe. The juniors dont go in hotzones, but one terrible case I heard was of a junior being killed by the truck backing into the hall. We all wonder how in the world that happens, but it does. But when theres 12 suger filled crazy kids running around your hall, it can happen.
too true... hell i almost took *myself* out one day by standing up (and smashing my head) into the bottom corner of an open compartment door on the truck... and yes, i was in the hall... :eek: stuff doesn't even have to be moving for things to happen... lol

[DFCSmash]

One question- If you have had a memeber since they were 14 and they are hired when they turn 18 is a probationary period still nessicary???

Here the answer is YES. No different than someone coming in from another department with 2,3,4,25 years in. The step up to a full member can swell heads and bring out the worst in your formerly "great" junior. Most times it's a moot point, but stuff can happen.

Here, you can't be a junior until you are 16, due to WCB issues. so it will only be 2 years. But the bylaws read all new members will be on probation for 6 months. So as new members, they are on probation. The first place you will see your problem is in their reaction to this news. Some do not take it well. Others recognize that it is the final step on their ladder to respect.

[hfdjuniorbezant]

One question- If you have had a memeber since they were 14 and they are hired when they turn 18 is a probationary period still nessicary???

we have a junior program in our fire department and i went through it for a bit before i turned 19 and got voted in as a regular firefighter. i am in the probationary period for one year. i'm not 100% sure if there really is a reason for doing the probationary period if you were a junior but i don't really care.

[DCCHam]

We have a guy with our dept. now that came to us (a little under a year ago) from another dept. where he held the rank of D/C and a was a member for 14 years. He made Captain with us the first of the year, which means he's really a red-hat that is still on probation. :p

[hfdfirejr]

i think the probationay period is a great thing ...its a transition to the full member and you gain expirence..and i also think the period could be extended if the officers dont feel the person is preforming how they should. This is a great time to see how the person is going to handel them selves.
expirence can be held back to a certin point but it cant be placed on the back burner if it is something that will help the fire scene

[mutts252]

i think the probationay period is a great thing ...its a transition to the full member and you gain expirence..and i also think the period could be extended if the officers dont feel the person is preforming how they should. This is a great time to see how the person is going to handel them selves.
expirence can be held back to a certin point but it cant be placed on the back burner if it is something that will help the fire scene

agree 110% ... especially the option to extend the probationary period a little bit, just to get that extra bit of comfort (for the officers and rest of the dept., that is)

[Josh00]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael13
One question- If you have had a memeber since they were 14 and they are hired when they turn 18 is a probationary period still nessicary???

Anyone new to the department should have atleast a months probation and have to attend a few practices as well as have an orientation to the departments SOPs SOGs etc and to how all the equipment works.

And I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again. Jr programs are a very good idea. I started in one when I was 16, and I'm 18 and have 8/12 NFPA 1001 courses from the alberta fire school (fire etc) as well as I'm an EMR.

[DementedGreg_87]

My Department runs a junior program, currently we only have 2-3 members under 18. When I joined the majority of my Department was juniors though (myself included, I was 16), in total there were 9-12 of us on a department, ages raging from 14-17. Juniors were the majority back then, it actaully saved the departments ass at the time, as we were allowed to respond to calls, even from school =P. Which gave us a good laugh to see the expressions on teachers faces when student after student ran by out of the blue with pagers/ radios going off. Its a great program especailly if they stay with the dept once they reach the age of 18.