Education
West Metro Fire Explorer Program
The West Metro
Fire-Rescue District’s Explorer program
continues to challenge and provide good
training experiences to its eight members.
This year, the group has been utilized for
several public education functions, assisted
with annual hose testing and several members
are in training for First Responder
certification along with New Hope and
Crystal Police cadets.
The Explorer program is
open to boys and girls between the ages of
14 and 21. The purpose is to help the
participants get first-hand experiences and
training in a career field, such as
firefighting while providing service to
their local communities.
Explorers use a
training manual published by the Learning
For Life Career Education Program an
organization of the Boy Scouts of America,
as well as the Essentials of Firefighting
Manual used to train regular firefighters.
Whenever possible, the group tries to share
training experiences with other Explorer
organizations, including Police Explorers.
Listed below are some
of the activities the Explorers are involved
with:
-
Fire District open
houses
-
Presentations to
other civic groups
-
Fire service annual
hose testing
-
Canvassing
neighborhoods with fire education
pamphlets after a fire has occurred in
the neighborhood.
-
Annual Safety Camps
in Crystal and New Hope
-
Assisting with
major emergencies
-
Assisting with fire
department training exercises
-
Tours of police and
dispatch facilities
The Explorers meet
twice monthly on the first and third
Thursday of the month. They have a uniform
jumpsuit and designed their own patch.
Monthly business meetings include hands-on
training drills using fire equipment similar
to the training received by actual District
firefighters. Involvement with the Fire
Explorers can lead directly to becoming a
District firefighter after participants have
graduated from high school.
Training is underway to
participate in late August at a Minnesota
State Fair Explorer Competition.
Download a PDF file of this program here |
