GVCS is combating the first responder crisis
From GVCS,
Landyn Burrows, a tenth-grade student at Genesee Valley Central School, recently became the first member of the school’s Junior Firefighter Program to advance to full-fledged firefighter status.
The Junior Firefighter Program seeks to prepare students for careers in emergency services while strengthening local fire departments. This grant-funded initiative, supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), provides young volunteers with hands-on experience in firefighting techniques, safety procedures, and emergency response training.
The grant aims to address the regional need for emergency responders and includes students from multiple communities, including Scio, Angelica, and Belmont.
During his time in the program, Landyn has participated in intensive training, learning critical skills such as how to wear and use SCBA tanks, ladder training, hose handling, forest fire safety, fire hydrant operation, and assisting in the Allegany County DWI Mock Crash demonstration.
To become a full firefighter, junior members must meet several criteria, including reaching the age of 16, passing a physical examination, maintaining good standing within the junior program, and receiving approval from the fire department’s board.
When asked why he chose to join the program, Landyn shared, “I wanted to learn something new and help out in the community.” Through his participation, he has gained in-depth knowledge of firefighting equipment, fire trucks, and emergency procedures, all of which have helped prepare him for active duty.
Miranda Hemphill, Junior Firefighter Program Advisor, has witnessed Landyn’s personal growth throughout the program. “He has truly opened up as a person and grown through this experience. His enthusiasm and passion for firefighting are inspiring. It’s been wonderful to hear how well he’s doing and how much he’s succeeding.”
Josh Ford, Chief of the Angelica Fire Department, praised the program’s success, stating, “The junior firefighter program at GVCS has been instrumental in adding new members to our department who otherwise may have never joined. It has been rewarding to see Landyn’s dedication and eagerness to learn since he joined our department, and I look forward to his continued growth as a firefighter. I can only hope we will get more young volunteers like Landyn to serve their community and help replenish the ranks of our dwindling fire departments.”
