| By Sarah Studley
Tarrytown Patch
"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 accommodating training schedules geared toward college and high school-aged students.
"Many young people are willing to serve their communities as volunteer firefighters, but they are unable to obtain the necessary training because the go to school out of the area or just have other commitments during the year," explained Astorino.
Today, volunteers as young as 15 worked toward completing the 27-hour Firefighter II course that "completely prepares the firefighters to respond to emergencies as a team leader," according to Department of Emergency Services (DES) Deputy Commissioner 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 volunteer 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.
"I try to get away some weekends and come back here," he said. "I have a lot of friends I've met through the fire department."
Julio Sosa, a Sleepy Hollow High School student, explained being a firefighter is not only a rewarding volunteer opportunity, but also keeps him busy.
"I had a friend that made me join," he said. "I was sort in trouble [a lot] and I wanted to stay off the streets."
As part of a demonstration today, the trainees demonstrated how to properly put out a propane fire, which involves turning off the valve used to ignite the flames (see video).
"We have two [hose] lines so we have enough of a flow stream," explained Sosa, one of the youngest trainees at 15-years-old.
Henry Bergson, chairman of the Katonah Fire District Board of Commissioners and Westchester County Fire Advisory Board, thanked the DES for being so receptive to feedback about training times.
"If you enjoy this, if you're beginning to really appreciate the camaraderie of the fire house and the feeling of giving back to your community, tell your friends and neighbors—volunteerism is a great thing," said Bergson. "We need more volunteers in the fire service." |
