Volga's junior firefighter program promotes youth retention

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

In his 25 years as a firefighter, Volga Fire Chief Darren Nading has always liked helping people. Since coming to Volga 10 years ago, after spending 15 years on the Strawberry Point department, he’s been involved in numerous ways to improve the department, from securing grants and getting better equipment, to hosting fundraising events—all in an effort to be as fiscally responsible as possible with department funds. 

As chief, Nading oversees 26 firefighters who are responsible for keeping a town of 200 safe between the 10 or so fire calls and around 25 EMS calls per year. The department also assists VCTC events, providing fire safety for Volga’s annual Bump-N-Run races and truck cruises. 

For Nading, being chief is about leading, keeping his fellow firefighters safe and well trained, providing adequate equipment and, most importantly, retaining firefighters. 

Firefighter retention is something small, rural communities have been struggling with, and Volga is no different. Finding members is already hard enough in a population that small, but keeping them is sometimes even harder when volunteers have other jobs and commitments. 

After all, fire fighting is not the safest occupation, and the risks often serve as a deterrent. But the most noticeable deterrent, in Nading’s view, is the 120-hour time commitment associated with passing Firefighter 1, the required training to become a full-fledged member of any department. 

In an effort to create a sustainable department, Nading dug deep into his memory—back to the late 1990s when he was a teenager interested in firefighting. He joined the junior firefighter program through the Boy Scouts of America Learning for Life Explorer Program and attended meetings twice a month in Manchester for two years, learning the basics for the day he joined the Strawberry Point Fire Department at 18. 

Nading brought up the idea of a junior firefighter program to other Volga members, and with their support, the program started in 2016 with four members. 

According to the Explorer website, the junior firefighter program is built “to deliver character-building experiences and mentorship that allow youth to achieve their full potential in both life and work.”

Essentially, the program is designed to provide young men and women ages 14 to 18 with the opportunity to explore a career as a firefighter. There is a detailed list of what junior firefighters can and can’t do depending on age and departmental procedures. 

Mostly, individuals are able to respond to calls, unless they’re in school or the call occurs after 10 p.m. Once on scene, however, their duties are limited. According to Nading, they assist where needed without getting in the way and roll up the fire hose. 

Junior firefighters also attend meetings, where they are educated in department procedures and meeting decorum, and engage in training sessions where they learn how to operate pumpers, handle hoses, hook up to a hydrant, clean air packs and identify potential hazards. 

The notion of community is another reason Nading wanted to create the program. You can’t serve and protect the community if there is no viable fire department. Secondly, the program has the potential to open young people’s eyes to opportunities. It’s an effort to keep young people rooted and invested in their neighbors and town.  

Since 2016, Nading has maintained a steady flow of youth through the program, typically capping the number at four, which provides each junior firefighter with more one-on-one time and creates a better learning environment. More importantly, it’s a practical number that allows junior firefighters to be helpful during calls, rather than become a burden. 

Several people have gone through the program, including Ben Fettkether, who joined in 2016 at 16, spurred on by his father joining the department in 2015. He saw it as a “call to help the community,” and once committed, fell in love. 

During his time in the program, Fettkether felt it gave him a sense of responsibility and a different role within the community. It felt like being a part of something bigger than himself. 

Fettkether stayed behind the scenes on calls, watching and learning from older guys, relaying messages, rolling up hose and picking up items. He believes the program prepared him well to become a firefighter. 

That preparation was put to use in 2019, when Fettkether was on the end of the hose during a shed fire. In that moment, the decision to join the junior firefighters was justified. 

But being a firefighter has given Fettkether more than a volunteer occupation—it’s given him friendships and the belief he can make a difference in the community. 

It’s the time after the calls and meetings, talking to and listening to the veteran firefighters tell stories, that has made it worth it. Being a junior firefighter has given him an extended family and helped make him who he is today. 

Tommy Whittle also went through the program and has been a member of the Volga department for three years, since turning 18. His decision to join rested on his love of volunteering, a love of fire trucks and following in the footsteps of family members.  

Whittle recalled it “helps you get the bigger picture” when responding to a call. Youth see the reasons behind decisions and look at all aspects of the response. 

Whittle also got hands-on experience during the “organized chaos,” like replacing air packs, pulling and rolling hose and helping with initial set up. 

“You notice that everyone has to work together,” Whittle said. 

Since his time in the program, Whittle, along with Cole Deitchler and Jesse Osmundson, have assumed the responsibility of setting up and leading many department training sessions. That recently included bringing in a burn trailer to simulate a live fire. 

A current member, Braden Taylor, joined in January 2022. Taylor is the third generation serving the department, and during his time in the program, was able to join an instructor and a senior fireman in a training trailer, assist with traffic control and join the firemen for storm watch. 

“The overall experience has been good. I’ll probably keep being a fireman because I enjoy serving the community,” Taylor said.

Another current member, Kabrien McDonald, joined in August because he was inspired to help improve the community. In his brief time in the program, McDonald has observed traffic control and maintenance checks and assisted with truck inventory. 

The program enjoys the  support of Volga Mayor Carrie Taylor, who called it beneficial in many ways. 

“It enables our youth to be involved and gain experience. It also develops a sense of belonging within the community, which encourages the youth to stay in the area after graduation,” she said. “Finally, the program helps build relationships between neighbors, which develops a mutual respect between the community’s youth and other residents…The sustainability of our community is dependent on the development of our next generation.”