Junior firefighters assist with limited duties at emergency scenes, attend training sessions, and learn about the job under the supervision of senior firefighters. They are often older teenagers interested in emergency services and may not participate in hazardous activities. Junior firefighter programs promote volunteerism and community awareness of emergency services activities. Strict rules govern junior firefighters, and they may face discipline or suspension for violating regulations.
A junior firefighter works in a support role for firefighters, helping with limited duties in emergency scenes. He or she can help with outside hoses, carry necessary supplies for firefighters working outside a fire scene, and assist with traffic control. Junior firefighters typically do not participate in any hazardous activities, but do attend training sessions to learn about the job.
In many areas, a junior firefighter is an older teenager interested in emergency services as a career. Firefighters use these programs as recruiting tools to prepare young people for firefighting courses after they graduate from high school. They also promote volunteerism in the community and raise community awareness of emergency services activities.
A junior firefighter generally learns about the dangers at fire scenes under the supervision of a senior firefighter. He or she can be allowed inside a structure after a fire is out and there is no risk of collapse. In this role, a junior firefighter can help with cleanup and observe how fire investigators work. He usually helps collect the equipment and loads it onto the truck before leaving the fire scene.
These cadets receive training alongside regular firefighters, usually on a monthly basis. When an emergency call is placed via a pager or radio, a junior firefighter responds to the fire station and escorts firefighters to the scene. Bans typically limit participation to hours after school hours and up to a certain night time. If the emergency involves downed power lines or gas leaks, regulations often require the teen to remain in the fire truck until the area is deemed safe.
In some fire departments, a junior firefighter is prohibited from responding to hazardous material spills involving nuclear or biological substances. The volunteer teenager may also be banned from any liaison involving explosives or terrorist threats. In some regions, a junior firefighter may not participate in mass accident scenes, such as a plane, train, or bus crash with multiple injuries or fatalities.
Most junior firefighter programs require the student to maintain good grades, undergo a police background check, and obtain parental permission. He or she may also need a complete physical exam to show fitness to serve as a volunteer. Strict rules generally govern junior firefighters, including bans on offensive clothing and language. They are expected to treat colleagues and the public with courtesy and respect as representatives of the fire department. A junior firefighter who violates regulations may face discipline or suspension from the program.
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