Elk Creek Fire Fire Rescue in Conifer is preparing to start a junior firefighter program in the form of an Explorer post a month after its neighbor, Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District, discontinued a similar program.
Inter-Canyon’s board of directors decided to stop its Youth Patrol, saying the program for youth ages 14-18 put participants and the department at too much risk.
“There really was no change, it was simply recognition of the risks versus the benefits to the community,” said Inter-Canyon information officer Daniel Hatlestad.
Elk Creek, however, is getting major boosts to its budget thanks to approval by voters in November 2013 of a 2.5-mill rate increase. Elk Creek information officer Michael Davis said the measure — the first increase for the district in 40 years — has allowed two new fire engines and firefighter gear to be ordered, and a deputy chief position to be restored.
“Now we’re in a little better shape,” he said. “It’s certainly allowed us to fund more training and activities of that nature, and the Explorer program will fit right in with that.”
Elk Creek firefighter Vincent Van Binsbergen is leading the effort to start the Explorer post that will give area youth the opportunity to learn firefighting and emergency response skills.
Exploring is different from Inter-Canyon’s Youth Patrol in that it is a Learning for Life program, a subsidiary of Boy Scouts of America that allows youth to get real-life career experience. The Elk Creek Explorer Post 1948 will be open to males and females ages 15-20. Van Binsbergen said it will cost $100 annually to participate, part of which covers the cost of a uniform.
“It’s pretty much the real thing without going into a live-fire situation,” he said.
At 23, Van Binsbergen is younger than the average career firefighter and he credits the Explorer post he joined in Northern California where he went to high school.
“It was really like a second family,” he said.
But, Van Binsbergen admits, it is not easy. Youth explorers do not go into live-fire or dangerous situations, but do attend most of the same meetings and same training that staff firefighters and volunteers attend. He compares it to ROTC and said it can give youth a head start for going into the field.
“It’s an awesome steppingstone to becoming a career firefighter or volunteer,” he said.
Van Binsbergen said his goal is to recruit at local high schools this fall, but the district will likely take on only about four participants to start in January. The hope is that it will grow to the point where experienced youth will help train and lead new participants, which is the traditional model of the program.
Van Binsbergen is optimistic about participation; he has already heard from interested kids in the community. Those interested should e-mail vvanbinsbergen@ elkcreekfire.org.
Davis said the district looks forward to making this a serious opportunity.
“The ultimate goal of the Exploring program would be to get young people interested in community service and emergency services,” he said. “Our hope would be that when they get old enough, they can enter our academy and become a career or volunteer firefighter.”
Josie Klemaier: 303-954-2465, jklemaier@denverpost.com
Elk creek explorer program
Anyone interested should e-mail vvanbinsbergen@elkcreekfire.org.
