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The firefighter 1 course takes about four to five months to complete and teaches students the basic skills, such as venting, hose work, ladder work, search with air packs, ropes, knots, hazmat awareness and CPR.
“It’s always exciting to have new firemen,” said Rochelle Park Fire Chief Michael Stearns. “Especially juniors. Juniors are our future, the more they help and get involved the greater help it is to the community.”
The graduation was held at the end of September with one regular member, Andrew Vitale, and three junior members, Nick Keleshian, Kevin Grieco and Yanko Hernando.
Junior members are locals who are 16 and 17 years old. Firefighters must be at least 18 years old to serve.
“The juniors can still help us, go and grab what we need off the fire apparatus,” Stearns said. “It saves us a lot of time because we lose a lot of people running back and forth. This also gives them a chance to volunteer and to know what it’s like to be part of a team.”
Grieco, who is 16, is following in his family’s footsteps. Both his father Charlie Sr. and his brother Charlie Jr. both volunteer on the Rochelle Park Fire Department.
“It’s pretty cool to see my brother and father (fight fires),” Grieco said. “I am proud to say they are my father and brother. I wanted to get in on that.”
Grieco’s father Charlie Sr., who has been fighting fires for 32 years, also works full time as deputy chief on the Hackensack Fire Department.
“I think it’s a great thing to learn at a young age,” Charles said of Kevin. “It builds structure and lets him see different things in the world to see what happens when people go through a fire and prepares him to go through life.”
The Rochelle Park Fire Department currently has 53 members but is always looking for more volunteers.
MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/RPFire
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