Junior fire fighter duties.

[rsdemt]

wHEN i WAS AN emt IN vA.
Our station had junior fiirefighters.
As I remember they were basic "go get stuff" person.
They were not allowed to do live firefighting, were not involved in auto accidents (except traffic control, or other minor duties.)
I have a friend who brags about being a Jr. firefighter, and going into house fires. Helping with extrications, and making him sound like "super firefighter."
In your department, what are the duties of a junior firefighter?
Even as an EMT, I had basic fire fighter training.
Hooking hoses to hydrants, throwing ladders, tying ropes, scba etc.
I did more on a fire scene than junior firefighters. I was in more dangerous, type situations than they were.
I really want to debate with him. But I want to know, exactly want Jr. firefighters can and can not do.

Any one in Va. would be real helpful, but all responses welcome.
Thank you all !
Steve.

 

[karaya]

I'd post this question on a fire forum site. There are numerous fire haters here, and I'll be surprised if you get an objective answer to your query. But, maybe I'll be proven wrong?

 

[seanm028]

The closest we have here in Phoenix is a Cadet program. They are very few in number and very well trained (considering that they're volunteer cadets), and even then they are not allowed to fight fires, extricate, or do anything that requires donning an SCBA.

 

[BossyCow]

We have a junior program but its primarily educational. Our insurance won't allow them to respond to any EMS calls and allows only minimal participation on fire scenes.

 

[PotatoMedic]

My bet is that they is lying. Or that the program they are associated with is very poorly run.

Here is a good forum to look at. and I suggest you do a search first before you ask a question like that or they will jump down your trachea P).
http://forums.firehouse.com/forumdisplay.php?f=320


And I did the same as you when I was an explorer. "fetch" stuff.

 

[Jon]

Around here, you MIGHT see juniors functioning in a rescue role, like assisting in extrication... they can't run the tools... but they can crib, stage equipment, and help with patient movement if trained.

You don't go into fires until you are 18... per PA Labor and Industry.

 

[medic417]

Not allowed on scene. They clean the station and attend training.

 

[EMTCop86]

When I was an explorer we had to get to level 3, have our hazmat, and MFR and then we could do ride outs. We were allowed to assist in patient care. For fires we stood back and watched but were allowed to help with mop up but only after all the dangers were gone.