Explorer Program
offers training
to future firefighters
By Renata
Youkhanna
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — Viejas Firefighters have introduced a new program
that offers training to become a firefighter along with First
Aid and CPR certifications to young adults between 14 and 21
years of age.
These young adults are taught how to use equipment for
fire suppression, CPR, First Aid and safety procedures during an
emergency, as part of the Explorer Program. During their
training, the young women and men are put into actual situations
to fully experience the life of a firefighter.
In these actual emergency situations, the Explorers
will assist firefighters and become one of the team members.
Since they are able to start at a young age, parental consent is
needed to enter into the program.
Explorers are known by their helmet colors; their
helmets are orange. Firefighters are yellow and their captain
has a red helmet.
The Explorers are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.0
if they are in high school, without any failing classes. If,
however, they are not in high school, a diploma or a GED is
required to become an Explorer.
Each Explorer goes through a similar process as a
firefighter would when applying for a job. The application for
Explorers is not much different from firefighters, asking the
hopefuls for any skills they may have, education and training,
references, the list goes on.
A requirement that puts these young adults in the
actual situations is a ride-along. They are required to put in
at least 48 hours per month until they are out of the program.
During the ride-alongs, they assist the firefighters
with retrieving specific equipment needed from the ambulance or
fire engines, fill out paperwork while the firefighter is
tending to the patient and overall, lend a helping hand.
The firefighters do not fail the Explorers. Instead
they continue to educate them on the procedures until they
understand what needs to be done.
“The guys and girls in the program are very focused
because our interview process determines who really wants to do
this and who doesn’t. We can see in their attitudes if they want
to become a firefighter or if they are here because their
parents are making them,” says Explorer Coordinator/Firefighter
Tony Cascarano.
For some mentors, they are helping the Explorers on
their own time, without pay. This is just one way that they are
giving back to the community.
Giving back to the community is one major thing that
the firefighters extremely stress to the young adults in the
program.
“When I was a kid, around their age, I was in a similar
program with a fire department. This is a great program for kids
because they stay out of trouble, already know what their
interview process will be like when they apply for a
firefighting position, have their certifications and a lot more;
we teach them a lot of thing,” says Assistant Explorer
Coordinator/Firefighter Mark Gilman.
The Viejas Fire Department is funded, costing $1,500
for each Explorer to be equipped. Included in this fund is a
fire engine that is not in service, so they can use it as an
education tool.
Getting the full experience is not only going on ride-alongs
and administering CPR on people. The Explorers also stay over
night if they can, on a 24-hour shift. They are also given
chores to do around the house such as cleaning up and making
coffee early in the morning.
“We are accepting applications now until December 18.
In the beginning of January, we’ll have interviews for the young
men and women that want to become an explorer,” says Cascarano.
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