Young Adults Invited to Join SPFD’s Explorer Program
“The idea is to spark the interest we all had when we were younger.”
By Brandi Makuski
The Stevens Point Fire Department is looking for a few good recruits.
Fire Chief Bob Finn announced earlier this month his department would reinstate its Emergency Services Explorers Post. The Explorers program is open to young men and women ages 15-20 and teaches all aspects of emergency services including firefighting, emergency medical skills and other related topics.
Finn told the Police and Fire Commission the program would be ideal for any young adult interested in a career in the emergency services field, as well as those who aren’t sure.
“The idea is to spark the interest we all had when we were younger,” Finn told the Commission. “This [job] isn’t for everybody; this way we can have young people come in and they can kind of try it out, what we do. That way they’ll have an idea if they’re interested in pursuing this kind of career.”
According to firefighter Shane Westphal, the program needs at least five participants but can’t take more than 20.
“It’s going to be great, having young people come in and see if maybe this is a career they’d be interested in,” Westphal said on Friday. He added training will be provided to participants throughout the school year as well as summer break and will meet monthly.
For more information Westphal can be reached at (715) 344-1833.
The renewed program will have an open house at 6:30 PM on Thursday, Dec. 18 at Fire Station #1, 1701 Franklin St.