[VIDEO] Rockland Students Get Inside Look at Roles of Volunteer Firefighters, EMS Crews

Instead of relaxing during their Spring break vacation week, a group of 51 young Rockland County students are learning about fighting fires and saving lives in a Youth Academy at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona.

The youngsters, ages 12 to 14, are getting an inside view of what it's like to be a volunteer firefighter or member of a volunteer emergency medical unit in Rockland. The six-year-old program gives the youngster 50 hours of experience working with the same instructors who train the county's active-duty volunteer firefighters.

While the program is designed to be fun, John Ahlf, an instructor at the training center, said the Youth Academy has led to many young people signing up at their local volunteer fire departments when they became old enough to join.

Ahlf, an Orangeburg volunteer firefighter, noted how his own son and neice went through the Youth Academy and today are active volunteer firefighters.

During their time at the Fire Training Center, the youngsters learn about firefighting practices and techniques. And, they get to wear the same gear — from boots, protective pants, coats, to gloves and helmets — used by firefighters.

At the specialized facilities at the training center, the students learn how to use life-saving breathing gear and handle fire extinguishers and fire hose lines. Under the close watch of instructors, they get to put out fires, too.

While much of the Youth Academy is geared toward firefighting, Ahlf said the program includes training on lifesaving techniques such as CPR so that youngsters who may be interesting in joining local volunteer ambulance companies can get an inside look at the role of EMS crews.

Rockland County is protected by 100 percent volunteer fire departments. Throughout the county, communities have emergency medical services provided through volunteer ambulance corps units. Those EMS units also work in conjunction with the paid paramedic service that operates in all five Rockland County towns, Rockland Paramedics.

This week's class of the Fire Training Center's Youth Academy is one of the largest since the program began, Ahlf said. The program began on Monday and runs until Saturday, with more training for the students next weekend.

Many of the students in the program come from firefighting families throughout the county. In addition to the Youth Academy, a Fire Explorer program for teenagers also gives provides traning for young people who are interesting in learning about volunteer firefighting.

For information about future Youth Academy programs or the Fire Explorer program click here. Most fire departments in Rockland County accept teens, with parental consent, at age 16 and they can attend the "Firefighter 1" basic training program at the Fire Training Center, which has classes evenings or on weekends.

For information on becoming a volunteer firefighter click here . You can also call 845-365-8800, or visit your local firehouse.