Volunteer fire company debuts cadet program

PERKIOMEN » Fourteenyear-old Johnny Severide no longer has to wait until his 16th birthday before becoming a junior firefighter. He can join now.

Perkiomen Township Volunteer Fire Company has just introduced the Cadet Program, which allows 14- and 15-year-olds to get a “jump start” before joining the ranks of volunteer firefighters.

“There are not many volunteer fire companies that offer the Cadet Program,” explained John Barnshaw, chief of Perkiomen Township Volunteer Fire Company, and the person who oversees the program.

In this area only two others fire companies — Limerick and Lower Frederick — offer the program.

Cadet training is held every Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the company’s station on Gravel Pike. During the sessions, the youths get acquainted with Perkiomen Township Volunteer Fire Company’s four pieces of firefighting apparatus, the rescue equipment, the different types of hoses and how each type is used for particular types of fire.

When the fire company is dispatched to an emergency, the cadets are allowed to ride the apparatus.

“Upon arrival, they observe by getting an upclose look as to what firefighters do on the scene of an emergency,” explained Barnshaw.

The Cadet Program was also implemented as a recruiting tool for prospective members.

“Hopefully the cadets will like our organization, learn valuable information about the fire service and tell their schoolmates about the program who — in turn— will come down to the station to inquire,” said Barnshaw.

Assisting Barnshaw is former chief John Moran Jr., who is involved in training the cadets. Both of these officials have to abide by the child labor laws, rules, and guidelines.

For further information about the Cadet Program, contact the fire company at 610-489 7707, hit the prompt key to leave message with the chief, or stop by the station on Gravel Pike between 7 and 9 p.m. on Mondays for additional information and fill out an application.