Justin Longa of Oakland, NJ was sworn in as a junior firefighter at the May 9th council meeting. The oath taken sets the stage for Longa to assume a full position with the Oakland Volunteers once he reaches the age of maturity.
The “age of maturity” is a legal term, because the efforts and responsibilities of a junior firefighter by nature demand maturity. Junior firefighters like Longa are critical to the continuation of our volunteer tradition in America.
71 percent of all firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers; and first responders save communities in the U.S. approximately $128 billion annually.
Beyond the number crunching, volunteer firefighters exemplify the spirit that defines a community. The sacrifices made even prior to being accepted into the department are substantial in terms of the hours, days, weeks spent in training and education.
Then begin the 4am calls to respond to emergencies, the ongoing commitment to training, and the regular hours devoted to supporting the department in terms of maintenance.
The National Junior Firefighter Program, which acts as an umbrella organization for many local efforts around the country, launched a Facebook page to help support, celebrate and encourage junior firefighters. The National Volunteer Fire Council also lists a sundry of scholarships targeting first responders in college.
Congratulations to Justin Longa and the Oakland FD Volunteers. http://www.oaklandfd.org/
The video below is a PSA with a variety of young men and women describing their motivations and experiences as junior firefighters.