Superior senior leads Junior Firefighting Program
Junior Firefighter Program director Anthony Dodd, right, sits on the back of one of the Superior Volunteer Fire Department trucks with junior volunteer Cami Quick. (Photo courtesy/Anthony Dodd)
While others flee, firefighters run toward the danger. Being a first responder requires courage and selflessness, but when you also add in labels like “junior” and “volunteer” it takes this brave act of service to a whole other level.
In rural communities around the country and locally along Interstate 90 in Mineral County, volunteer fire departments are first on the scene when someone is having their worst day. The National Volunteer Fire Council stated in 2022, that volunteers comprise 65% of firefighters in the U.S. Of the total estimated 1,041,200 firefighters across the country, 676,900 are volunteer based.
We depend on them to be the first line of defense for many types of emergencies. Volunteer firefighters are called to various crises every day including fires, emergency medical incidents, vehicle accidents, active shooter events, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescue emergencies, and many other general public service calls. These volunteers spend enormous amounts of time training to prepare for these emergencies.
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