junior members of the westwood fire dept.

Westwood Volunteer Fire Department

Pictured from left to right: Jimmy Voorhis, Mike Saul and Scott Voorhis

 

Editor's note:  This interview has been edited for clarity and length.  

 

Celebrate Westwood: How long have each of you been part of the fire department?

 

Jimmy: I've been on for this will be my fifth year.

 

Mike: This will be my third year.

 

Scott:  This will be my fourth year.

 

Celebrate Westwood: And why did you guys decide to get involved?

 

Jimmy: My family has been in the fire service for three generations and you know, it's just in my blood to help out the community.

 

Mike: My family has also been in the fire service for three generations and I like helping people and it's fun.

 

Scott: And I have the same reason as Jimmy. Third generation means you have extra cousins. And it's just been a whole family legacy here.

 

Celebrate Westwood: So what makes you guys Junior cadets, versus I guess it's full fledged members?

 

Jimmy:  So cadets are between the ages of 15 and 18. And they can they go through the training and everything and they can help out outside fires and stuff and stuff vital to the fire ground without actually going into the fire and coming down and helping out around the firehouse and then a fireman you get to go in the fire and you're all trained and qualified to do everything.

 

Celebrate Westwood:  Is it an age process or a training process?

 

Mike: It's an age and training process. So once you obtain firefighter one turn 18 You're going to be a fireman. Anything other than that you will be a cadet or probationary member.

 

Celebrate Westwood:  How many cadets there are right now currently?

 

Mike: We have two active cadets. I think there's six on the roster. Sorry, five more on the roster, two on military leave. And there's one on education leave, and then there's me and another kid.

 

Celebrate Westwood:  Is there anything you'd like to say to someone that's considering volunteering either as a firefighter and other capacity in Westwood?

 

Jimmy:  It's definitely the best job to have out there. Obviously, we're not getting paid to do it, but it's still one of the best things I've ever signed up for my life.

 

Mike:  It's the best thing that you can do. If you like really helping out your community is one of the best things.

 

Celebrate Westwood:  Well, thank you very much!

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