Cover credit – Office of Legislator Thorne
Twenty local students have just completed the Suffolk County Fire Academy’s Junior Firefighter Program, and were appropriately honored by County officials this week.
The graduation ceremony also marks the return of the Fire Academy’s Junior Cadet Program.
The students, now graduates, who range in age from 16 to 18, serve as junior members of their local volunteer fire departments. Their completion of the New York State Basic Exterior Fire Operations program will likely give them head starts on becoming active firefighters once they reach the age of 21.
Other requirements to become a firefighter often include physical ability tests, medical examinations, background checks, and possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.
The fifteen-week course commenced in August, over the course of which they were educated on building construction, fire dynamics, and fire suppression.
“Suffolk County is proud to revitalize the Junior Firefighter Program as we focus on creating new recruitment and retention initiatives within the local fire service,” said County Executive Romaine (R-Center Moriches).“By engaging our young people and junior firefighters, we will ensure that our first responder agencies will have the necessary resources to serve our communities for years to come.”
While the graduates are part of the Cadet Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO), they still clock into grade school, and meticulously juggled school responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and their personal lives while completing their fifteen-week training course.
“The hard work and dedication that these cadets have put into this program are nothing short of exemplary, and it always puts a smile on my face to see how many young men and women devote their time to public service,” said Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset).
Currently, Suffolk is home to 110 volunteer fire departments, as well as thirty ambulance corps, and over 11,000 service members who dedicate their time and even their lives to keeping Suffolk safe.
“After meeting with the Suffolk County Fire Academy and Suffolk County Fire Educators Association to assess their needs, an additional $125,000 in funding was added to the operational budget for overall fire education,” said Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), a former EMT who currently serves as Chair of the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) and Preparedness Committee. “We have provided lithium-ion battery training for firefighters, as well as public education and fire prevention, and we also worked together to initiate the total restoration of the Suffolk County Fire Academy’s Junior Cadet Program. For several years it remained canceled and unfunded, and as the chair of FRES here in Suffolk County, I am proud to have led the charge to restore funding to this amazing program. This is how we support our youth and give them the opportunity to make a difference. Volunteers under the age of 18 can get an early start and pursue their passion for safeguarding our community.”
Romaine, Kennedy, and Thorne were joined by fellow Suffolk Legislators Ann Welker (D-Southampton), Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park), Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), Deputy Presiding Officer (R-Brightwaters), Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), Suffolk Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), as well as Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), who has served extensively with the Medford Fire Department.
“These 16- and 17-year-olds have shown their grit as students and volunteers, and they have accomplished so much by earning their Exterior Firefighter I Certification,” said Legislator Thorne. “This next generation is well equipped with the best training and preparation in the country, and their commitment to safeguarding our communities is proof of how blessed Suffolk County truly is. It was a great honor for me to be present at your graduation and we’re all extremely proud of you!”
