The Daily Herald recently featured an article on a new Fire Explorer program being launched by the Elgin Fire Department. This initiative aims to inspire young individuals to consider a career in firefighting while enhancing the department's diversity. Spearheaded by Elgin firefighter George Steiner, the program is designed for youths aged 14 to 20 and is anticipated to commence in early fall.
According to Steiner, the curriculum will closely resemble the training provided at fire academies but at a more relaxed pace. Participants can expect to meet twice monthly. From day one, Explorers will be trained in CPR and First Aid, along with essential firefighting skills such as understanding fire behavior, handling ladders, operating fire hoses, water safety, forcible entry techniques, ventilation strategies, and search-and-rescue operations. The annual cost for the program is projected to be around $15,000, covering materials, helmets, and uniforms. Financial support will come partly from the department's public education budget and hopefully some funds allocated by the city for diversity programs.
"This program should have been introduced earlier," noted Elgin Fire Chief John Fahy. He added that currently, local students interested in learning about firefighting would need to join the South Elgin Fire Explorer program instead. By combining both on- and off-duty personnel, the new program is expected to minimize overtime costs. Elgin firefighter Mike Przybylski emphasized that education remains a top priority, requiring participants to maintain at least a C average in their studies.
Much of this new endeavor draws inspiration from Elgin's longstanding Police Explorer program and Aurora's Fire Explorer program, established back in 2002. Firefighter Carl DeCarlo, who also serves as the fire science instructional coordinator at Elgin Community College, played a key role in developing this initiative. Future Explorers may even qualify for an EMT-Basic certification upon completing the course through ECC.
The inaugural cohort will comprise 20 Explorers who must pass a basic physical exam and undergo an interview process. To learn more about the Fire Explorer program, there will be an open house and orientation event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 12, at Fire Station No. 2 located at 650 Big Timber Drive, Elgin. For further information, interested parties can call (847) 931-6181 or (847) 931-6177, or send an email.
Thanks, Dan!
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