Future firefighters from across the nation spent June 20-24 in College Station (Texas) at the 2005 National Fire/Emergency Services Exploring Conference hosted by the Texas Engineering Extension Service.

More than 500 teens representing posts in 20 states – from Washington to Florida – participated in competitions and seminars held at TEEX's Brayton Fire Training Field.

The teenagers participated in individual and team events, including a bunker gear relay, make and break, room search, paramedic biking competition, physical ability test and wildfire shelter deployment. Explorers also competed in drill competitions and attended seminars on topics such as canine search and rescue; Texas Task Force 1; wildland firefighting; fire prevention and investigation; and National Firefighter Safety Stand Down, which was observed by TEEX and fire departments nationwide on June 21.

Guest speakers at the opening ceremony included Garry Briese, executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and Chief Charlie Dickinson, deputy fire administrator with the U.S. Fire Administration within the Department of Homeland Security.
 
 “It’s been a personal commitment of mine to kids,” Briese said. “The more we can relate to the youth of our nation as adults, the better off our nation will be overall. It is reenergizing to watch these kids on the field for the first time and to see fire stations for the first time gives you a focus on the future.”

Learning for Life’s Fire/Emergency Services Exploring program helps 14- to 20-year-olds gain the skills and confidence to pursue their career interest in firefighting. Chief Les Bunte of TEEX’s Emergency Services Training Institute served as the chairman of the 2005 conference.

Explorers Conference

“This is a big week for TEEX and the fire school,” Bunte said. “The group that is present here has a great interest in fire service and over the years has had a great track record of entering the fire service over the next several years. The track record shows that they are very energetic and move up the ranks of fire service.”

The explorers spent months preparing for competition and up to two years raising funds in order to attend the national conference. The competitions serve as both learning and team-building experiences, and culminated in an awards ceremony June 23, where 45 awards and trophies were presented.

Learning for Life’s Explorers program encompasses five emphasized areas, including career opportunities, service learning, leadership experience, life skills and character education, which are channeled through different post specialties ranging from art and humanities to social services.
 
TEEX, a member of The Texas A&M University System, offers hands-on, customized training, exercises, technical assistance and technology transfer services impacting Texas and beyond. Agency programs include fire services, homeland security, law enforcement, public works, safety and health, search and rescue and technology transfer.