In support of the national Junior Firefighter Program it is forming with Spartan Motors, the National Volunteer Fire Council is researching what different departments do to encourage youth participation in the fire and emergency services.

The Junior Firefighter Program is aimed at supporting existing volunteer departments by fostering relationships and engaging youth in learning about the emergency services. The main goal of the program will be having participants in a non-operational support capacity.

Junior Firefighter Program Coordinator Dave J. Iannone asks that fire departments answer the following questions in an e-mail to juniors@nvfc.org.

1. What are your department's requirements for participation by youth? Do you have an age limit or requirements for both non-operational (around the firehouse, special event, fund raising, etc.) support and operational? What are these requirements? Please forward a summary, any supporting materials (documents, rules, etc.), and any contact information for your department's lead for these types of programs.
2. If you have a junior firefighter/Explorer program, how many active participants do you have and what are their ages? What is the breakdown of operational duties vs. non-operational? Please include the type of department, location and Web site address.
3. What do you feel are the biggest needs to support junior firefighter programs for fire/EMS departments today?
4. In what ways do you recruit youth from your community to participate in your department? Denote both non-operational and operational capacities.
5. Does your jurisdiction or state (please specify) have set age limits for participation in the fire/EMS service, in both an operational and non-operational capacity? If so, what are those requirements or what is the best contact (State Fire Marshal's Office, etc.) to obtain those requirements?
6. Does your state have any established junior/non-operational fire/EMS service related programs? If so, please briefly describe as well as provide any suggested contact information.
7. Are there departments/organizations in your state that you know have significant/successful junior firefighting/Explorer programs you feel would be good examples to follow on a national level? If so, please list the department name(s) and contact information or Web site address if available.

The NVFC also would like any additional information on junior/youth emergency services programs that fire service members believe may be beneficial to the NVFC in launching a nationwide initiative.