|
Explorer Post 838 (Company 5) was chartered to the South
Windsor Fire Department in 1969 and is currently the “Oldest – Still Active
Fire Explorer Post in
Connecticut.” Open to youth aged 14-17, the
Explorer Post is part of the Boy Scouts of America Exploring
Division and is a way to expose youth to the vocation of firefighting.
Explorers train in all facets of the fire service, including: safety,
department history, fire behavior and suppression, water supply, rescue
techniques, ropes and knots, ladders and fire prevention.
Explorers also work side by side with adult firefighters providing fire
ground support, mainly manning staging areas, changing SCBA (breathing
apparatus) bottles, retrieving equipment and setting up lighting.
Upon reaching the age of 15, Explorers are allowed to respond to fire
calls on fire apparatus.
Since its inception, approximately 275 members were in the
Explorer Post. Many went on to join
the ranks of firefighters and fire officers in the South Windsor Fire
Department, including current Fire Chief Philip Crombie.
Many members have also gone on to be employed by full-time paid fire
departments, police departments and the military.
Aside from operational activities Explorers also
participate in social activities with the firefighters, including parades,
picnics and holiday parties. Explorers
also participate in events specifically for Explorers.
The major event is the annual Junior Firefighter Challenge held each year
at the Connecticut Fire
Academy. The Junior
Firefighter Challenge is a competition amongst Explorers from the entire state
and is held in competition fashion, testing the Explorers’ proficiency in
various firefighting skills.
Each year, Explorers are selected to attend “Intro to the
Fire Service” which is held at the Connecticut
Fire Academy and depending on the session, lasts between 3 and 5 days.
In this program, Explorers live at the
Fire
Academy
and train in numerous aspects of the fire service and are able to show off
their talents during demonstrations at the culmination of the week.
Explorers also assist with the departments Fire
and Life Safety Education program and assist in the operation of the
South Windsor Fire Department’s Safety
House, which is operated at the Wapping Fair, Elementary School visits
and our annual Open House held during Fire Prevention week, among various other
programs/demonstrations.
If this sounds like it may be for you, please complete an application
and contact Lieutenant Scott Fine at sfine@southwindsorfire.org
.
Adobe Acrobat is need to view
the application. The viewer
is Free!
Intro
to the Fire Service - Connecticut Fire Academy
|
