West Metro Explorer Post #2647
The West Metro Fire-Rescue District’s Explorer program continues to challenge and provide good training experiences to its eight members. This year, the group has been utilized for several public education functions, assisted with annual hose testing and several members are in training for First Responder certification along with New Hope and Crystal Police cadets.
The Explorer program is open to boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 21. The purpose is to help the participants get first-hand experiences and training in a career field, such as firefighting while providing service to their local communities.
Explorers use a training manual published bythe Learning For Life Career Education Program an organization of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the Essentials of Firefighting Manual used to train regular firefighters. Whenever possible, the group tries to share training experiences with other Explorer organizations, including Police Explorers.
Listed below are some of the activities the Explorers are involved with:
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Fire District open houses
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Presentations to other civic groups
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Fire service annual hose testing
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Canvassing neighborhoods with fire education pamphlets after a fire has occurred in the neighborhood.
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Annual Safety Camps in Crystal and New Hope
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Assisting with major emergencies
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Assisting with fire department training exercises
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Tours of police and dispatch facilities
The Explorers meet twice monthly on the first and third Thursday of the month. They have a uniform and designed their own patch. Monthly business meetings include hands-on training drills using fire equipment similar to the training received by actual District firefighters. Involvement with the Fire Explorers can lead directly to becoming a District firefighter after participants have graduated from high school.
Training is currently underway to prepare our Explorers to participate in the State of Minnesota Fire Explorer competition this summer as well as at the Minnesota State Fair Explorer Competition.
For more information call 763.230.7081.