Bright flames, heavy gear, and the temperature is rising. The Prospect Volunteer Fire Department is bringing more and more into its Junior Program. The Cadet program allows teens of Prospect to be involved in the Prospect volunteer firefighter experience.
The members of the Junior Program are called “cadets.” At the age of eighteen, anyone who has completed the Junior Program is eligible to be a full-time member of the crew. Most juniors have been volunteering since the eighth grade. New members entering high school are just as welcome. Thomas Lewis joined the Junior Cadets in late June 2022, right before entering his first year of high school.
“My experience at the firehouse has been fun and exciting,” said Thomas Lewis.
Thomas Lewis noticed how kind and welcoming the staff and fighters have been.
“The environment is better than I had imagined. In the beginning, I thought it would be a daily job that graduated Cadets dreaded or found scary, but there are many things some people wouldn’t think of when you meet everyone. The fighters are always respectful and willing to help if you need it,” said Thomas Lewis.
Thomas Lewis experienced a helping hand when he didn’t know how to finish or begin something.
Thomas Lewis’s older sister, Tanaya Lewis, is also a Junior Cadet. Tanaya Lewis joined in early 2020, when she was in eighth grade. Tanaya Lewis agrees with her brother that the experience at the fire department is fun and exciting.
“The program is educational, and everyone helps you learn things that you would never learn in school,” says Tanaya Lewis.
In the future, Tanaya Lewis wishes to use her skills to join the Navy. She has learned what it means to be a team member and hopes to use everything she has learned within the Junior Cadet program with years to come.
The Prospect Volunteer Fire Department web pages says, “Firefighter safety is of paramount concern to the Department. As such, the activities of the Junior Firefighters are limited in scope and the program officers closely supervise them. Due to the inherent dangers of firefighting, strict rules of conduct and tight procedural standards have been established. In an actual emergency, it is essential that all firefighters, including Junior Firefighters, act calmly and efficiently.” Cadets have learned to take this safety very carefully; they learn the real prosperities of being a fire fighter while following all protocols.
The educational environment is a leading factor in why kids are joining. Cadets are required to attend weekly training for two hours, every Wednesday night. The training teaches Cadets to be ready for any surprise during an emergency.
