Local youth take part in firefighter training

The Somerton Fire Department is training the next generation of firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians .

The Cadet Program is a year-long training for those who want to gain real-life experience in the firefighter and medical field. For those interested in participating must be of ages 13 to 18 years old.

The training consists of real-life scenarios preparing the youth to tackle any emergency that comes their way.

Firefighter and paramedic, Arturo Mendez Jr., began his career as a cadet and has since then has been an instructor for the program for nine years.

“The cadet program is towards the young that want to experience the firefighter and the medical field. We teach them the basics of firefighting and ambulances. They come to the station to do training. They have their own gear and teach them the basic fundamentals to get them ready if they want to become firefighters, paramedics, or emergency medical technicians (EMTs),” said Mendez.

Francisco Aguirre has been a firefighter in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico for five years. He wanted to know how things work in the field just north of the border.

“When I was 11-years-old, I joined the fire department in Mexico. Right now I have five years going [in the cadet program]. I really like it, I like helping people, I learn a lot of things,” said Aguirre.

Azael Rodriguez has been a part of the program for a year and said that all the training will be worth it in the end.

” I get to do ride- al ongs and real work experience. I also get to learn the stuff that’s in the material and I feel like that’s really important because, in the fire academy, that’s something you study entirely. It’s also very fun because you get to learn while getting hands-on experience,” said Rodriguez.

Mendez wants his cadets to take home with them more than just the training.

“At least they will have that experience for their lives and they will take it with them. And hopefully will help them when they grow up, and hopefully, in the end, become firefighters,” said Mendez.

The year-long program trains students attending high school with the goal of having them join the fire academy once they turn eighteen years of age.