Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510130041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Pulaski's Public Operations Committee voted to recommend it to Town Council, which has its next meeting Tuesday.
The idea came from Fire Chief Jeff Hall several months ago as a way to help fill future volunteer fire-fighter ranks.
"This is obviously an important need. Jeff has seen the ranks of our firefighters dwindle over the years," Town Manager Tom Combiths told the committee. With volunteers facing increasing work, family and fire training demands, he said, "you add all that on, it's hard to recruit people."
Hall presented a list of activities that junior firefighters between the ages of 16 and 18 would be allowed to carry out, such as helping load or unload fire hoses, cleaning and returning equipment to its place after a fire, and helping with fire education in the community.
They would not perform actual firefighting activities, or participating in live fire training, ladder-climbing and rappeling. But they would be issued pagers and department vehicle tags, and attend all department meetings and drills.
An applicant would need written permission from a parent or guardian to take part in the program, once it starts. No starting date has been suggested yet.
It would, in Hall's words, give young people an opportunity "to become a member of one of the highest-trained and professional fire departments in the state" and should provide a pool of future volunteers.
"They're going to be in there and see what we're doing," Hall said. They will also have a better understanding of what it takes to be a volunteer. Sometimes, a volunteer will find the commitment more than anticipated and withdraw after six months or so, he said.
by CNB