RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Junior firefighters carry on tradition of volunteering
"Being a firefighter has always been an interest of mine," said Grimes. "I've wanted to be a fireman since I was little. My mom said that every little boy wants to be a fireman and my dream has come true." Roney said he joined the department because he enjoys volunteering and helping out the community. "I like helping people," he said. "There's a saying that there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. To be a volunteer firefighter takes more dedication than being a paid one." Roney and Grimes recently attended a Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials Containment course at the Alabama Fire College. They are eligible to return in November to complete the course. While many other young men are at home playing video games or having fun with their friends, Grimes and Roney enjoy spending time at the St. Stephens fire station honing their skills to become better firefighters. "They are basically teaching themselves," said Fire Chief Bo Roney. "They will check out the trucks, hose connections and practice using their turnout gear. It's great to see their enthusiasm because they and the other junior firefighters are the future of this department." Grimes said one aspect of firefighting they have focused on recently involves finding victims in a dark room and being able to work in a confined space. Both plan on continuing their careers as firefighters when they graduate from high school. Each stated that they hope to attend the Alabama Fire College and become fulltime paid firefighters. "We also want to live here and continue to serve our community on a volunteer basis," said Grimes. "We can't forget about this department and our community." Chief Roney said he really enjoys seeing the excitement the young firefighters have brought back into the department. "Before they joined, we weren't sure that the St. Stephens Fire Department was going to survive," he said. "Their enthusiasm has breathed new life into our department. They took the initiative in asking the department to purchase dress uniforms for the junior firefighters and the members of the department approved their request." Grimes and Roney, along with other junior firefighters, recently marched in both Jackson and Chatom's Fire Prevention Week parades. "This looks good for our department," added Chief Roney. "We needed some new blood and these young men are dedicated to learning as much as they can to become better firefighters. You can't ask for better than that."
The St. Stephens Fire Department currently has 28 members and seven junior firefighters. Dwain Strickland serves as assistant chief of the department. "I'm excited to see the junior firefighters taking an interest in helping others," he said. "Without young people stepping up and volunteering, there would be no future for the department."
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
)
