Teens invited to explore fire, emergency medical careers

For $50, young people aged 14-20 can sign up for a new seven-month “fire explorer” program that offers exposure and training for both firefighting and emergency medical service careers.

The Cloquet Area Fire District is offering the new program, which will be one of only a few in northern Minnesota.

Assistant CAFD fire chief Corey Larson said the group will meet once or twice a month during the school year. The curriculum is very similar to firefighter and medic training courses CAFD already offers to its new paid on-call

employees.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to grow in an area many young people aren’t exposed to,” he said, adding that the course will be taught by local firefighters, paramedics and EMTs, including himself. “The explorers will get hands-on experience as we rotate between fire and medical training.”

Larson said they’re looking for teens (grade 9 and above) who might not have a set career path, who want to see if they might want to become firefighters or

paramedics.

Larson shared how he got into the field. He was a history major in college, working as a lifeguard and swim instructor to help pay expenses. “After my first save where a person was in real danger, I knew I wanted to do something with emergency response and saving people,” he said. “And I figured I could fulfill that history aspect by reading books.”

The goal of the program is twofold. The first objective is to grow interest among local youth in the fire service or similar fields in health care or emergency services. The second is to bolster the ranks of CAFD’s paid on-call ranks.

By the time they’re done, explorers should be able to take the Fire Fighter 1 state test, and could apply for a paid job with CAFD when they turn 18.

Students or parents interested in knowing more should contact Larson at 218-499-4258 or [email protected] and plan on attending the first meeting Sept. 26 at CAFD Station 1. Space is limited.