Ulster County Fire Department Starts Junior Firefighter Program

If you or someone you know is a teenager and they are thinking about a career as a firefighter this is a great way to start.

According to Hudson Valley One, the New Paltz Fire Department has announced that they are now recruiting young people between the ages of 16 and 17 to join their newly created Junior Firefighter program.

The program, being done by experienced officers and firefighters is going to offer kids a "huge opportunity", according to New Paltz Second Assistant Chief Dylan Babcock. He also said that, “They will have the opportunity to gain free training and experience in the emergency services that can be used as a springboard for future employment in the field. They’ll also have access to many other perks, such as college tuition reimbursement through FASNY after serving the department for a certain time frame.”

The junior program will be a points based program, which means that kids in the program will have earn a predetermined amount of points to stay in good standing and they must also maintain passing grades in all of their courses, or they could be temporarily suspended from the program until their passing grades are met.

If your interested in this program and would like more information or to apply to the Junior Firefighter Program, e-mail info@newpaltzfire.org