The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) officially announced the four winners of a grant that funds youth firefighter training.
The Youth Volunteer Firefighter Training Program aims to boost recruitment in fire departments by introducing fire service careers to students across the state. The program provides the winners a combined $75,000 in grant funding.
Northcentral Technical College will receive $25,000 toward its Youth Firefighter Academy, a partnership that includes the volunteer Central Fire and EMS District, and Colby and Abbotsford high schools.
The college will train six high school students to be Firefighter Level I volunteers/employees and prepare them for the Emergency Medical Responder certification exam.
Recruitment and retention have become key issues for nearly all Wisconsin fire departments but particularly the all-volunteer stations in many rural communities.
The Youth Firefighter Grant Program is designed to help address these concerns by exposing high school students to career and volunteer opportunities in the fire service at a time when they are making decisions about their future careers and endeavors.
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