Junior Firefighter Program - Holiday Park VFD

The Junior Firefighter Program is an opportunity for teens age 14 thru 17 to become part of a volunteer fire department and learn early on the skills necessary to become a successful Firefighter in a safe & educational environment. Pennsylvania law dictates what a junior firefighter can do based on their age (14-15 & 16-17) in conjunction with Working Papers laws and Youth Employment Hours (while they are technically volunteers, we must adhere to those laws).

How It Works

The Junior Firefighters (JRFF) are overseen by the Chief Officers in conjunction with several Senior Firefighters (FF) designated as mentors for them. Our By-laws have specific guidance and rules for the 14 thru 17 years old age members of the department.

JRFF’s will train alongside FFs in drills & classes as well as respond on emergency calls to assist within their scope under PA law & HPVFD policies.

We value home life, school, and safety as our top priorities and the chiefs periodically reach out to parents to gauge how things are going and help maintain a healthy balance for the young teen.

Junior Firefighter Program Mentors

FF/EMT Chuckie Usher
Lt/Medic Joe Susalla
FF Mike Mlynar
(*All mentors are former JRFR’s from earlier in their careers)

Special Accomplishment

In late 2023, JRFF Nate McWilliams completed his Essentials of Firefighting/Fire School training and earned his Interior Firefighter certification as a 17 year old per a recent PA law change for training. Which means when he turns 18 in February he will then be allowed go into fires and operate just like the Senior FF’s.

Fire Camp

An extension of our Junior Firefighter Program is our annual week-long Summer Fire Camp that takes place each June. Teens from several counties come for a week to get a inside peak of what’s its like to a Firefighter, many come from existing departments, others are brand new. We believe at Holiday Park VFD that we need to recruit and retain the youth of today for the Fire Service of tomorrow to exist.

Learn More

Parents & Teens interested in Holiday Park VFD’s Junior Firefighter Program should reach out to Chief Jim Sims via chief@holidayparkvfd.org to request materials, arrange a visit, and interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

To help parents understand the laws and policies around Junior Firefighters in Pennsylvania, the state’s Office of the Fire Commissioner has clearly laid out them out in the sections below as well as has provided a Frequently Asked Questions area too…

Minors serving in volunteer emergency service organizations.

1. General Rule – An individual who is 14 years of age or older who is a member of a volunteer emergency service organization may participate in training and emergency service activities except as follows, a minor may…
a. NOT operate a truck, ambulance or other official fire vehicle.
b. NOT Operate an aerial ladder, aerial platform or hydraulic jack.
c. NOT use rubber electrical gloves, insulated wire gloves, insulated wire cutters, life nets or acetylene cutting units.
d. NOT operate the pump of a fire vehicle while at the scene of a fire.
e. NOT enter a burning structure under any circumstances including a training exercise.
2. General Rule – A minor many not engage in firefighting activities unless all of the following apply:
a. The minor is 16 years of age or older.
b. The minor has successfully completed a course of training equal to the standards for basic firefighting established by the State Fire Commissioner. The Pennsylvania Entry Level Fire Training curriculum allows junior firefighters to take training and participate in “Exterior” fire suppression activities. The minimum approved Entry Level Training classes are Introduction to the Fire Service, Fire Ground Support, and Exterior Firefighter.
c. The minor has successfully completed a course of training equal to the standards for basic firefighting established by the Department of Conservation and National Resources (DCNR). These classes are PA-130, Basic Wild land Firefighting and S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior.
Permitted activities include but are not limited to:
• Attacking the fire with hose lines a part of exterior operations.
• Setting ladders
• Setting up Positive Pressure Ventilation as part of exterior operations.
• Exterior salvage operations.
• Establishing water supply.
• Assisting at vehicle extrication and other types of rescue, including use of air bags.
d. The minor is under the direct supervision and control of the fire chief, an experienced line officer or a designated forest fire warden. The member must be under the direct supervision and control of the fire chief or a trained experienced officer over 21 years of age. Direct supervision means that the officer must be within speaking and touching distance of the junior member.

Minors under 16 years of age (14 years of age and less than 16 years of age) shall only be permitted to perform the following activities:

a. Engage in Training. Participate in organized training activities, in which an adult member of the organization is present, observing the training activity, and supervising the junior member. Training activities involving entry into a hazardous atmosphere (Immediately Deadly to Life and Health – IDLH) are excluded from the permitted activities.
b. First Aid. Minors may provide first aid care to victims at the scene of an emergency and assist First Responders, EMTs, and paramedics as directed by the medical personnel. If they are going to perform medical treatment they must be trained accordingly. Junior members are NOT permitted to enter hazardous atmospheres to provide medical care.
c. Cleanup service at the scene of a fire (rolling hose, putting away tools and removing debris), outside the structure and the collapse zone only after the fire has been declared by the fire official in charge to be under control.
d. Serving food and beverage (canteen services) during fire incident and emergency operations.

An individual who is 14 years of age and less than 16 years of age many not do any of the following:

a. Operating an aerial ladder, aerial platform or hydraulic jack.
b. Using rubber electrical glove, insulated wire gloves, insulated wire cutters, life nets or acetylene cutting torches.
c. Operating the pumps of any fire vehicle at the scene of a fire
d. Driving a fire truck, ambulance, or other official fire vehicle
e. Entering a burning structure.
f. Operate high pressure hose lines except during training activities.
g. A high pressure hose line is:
1) Any water hose used for fire suppression with a pressure greater than 150 psi.
2) Any air hose with a pressure greater than 100 psi.
3) Any hydraulic hose used for rescue tools with a pressure greater than 1,000 psi.
h. Ascend ladders except during training activities.

An individual who is more than 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age many not do any of the following:

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can 14-15 year old junior (minor) firefighters ride official vehicles to the scene of a fire?
Answer: Yes, all junior firefighters are permitted to ride official vehicles to the scene of a fire.

Question: Can junior (minor) firefighters participate in activities at the scene of an emergency located on or near a highway open to the public?
Answer: Yes for junior firefighters 16 or 17 years of age. No for junior firefighters 14 or 15 years of age who are prohibited from working on a highway open to the public in any circumstances including at the scene of an emergency.

Question: What are the time restrictions for junior (minor) firefighters engaged in training or firefighting activities?
Answer: A junior firefighter 14 or 15 years of age may engage until 10:00 p.m. before a school day if that minor is a member of a volunteer fire department and has the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian. A 16 or 17 year old junior firefighter who is a member of a volunteer fire company may engage in training or firefighting activities until 12:00 a.m. or until 1:00 am during summer vacations. If a 16 or 17 year old minor answers a fire call while lawfully employed during the legal hours above, he or she may continue serving in answer of that call until excused by the fire chief.

Question: Can junior (minor) firefighters assist with the establishing a landing zone?
Answer: Yes, only junior firefighters 16 and 17 years of age may assist with establishing a landing zone for a helicopter as long as they do not perform any other prohibited activity.

Question: Can junior (minor) firefighters who are 14 or 15 years of age use high pressure lines, (hydraulic, air and water)?
Answer: Yes, but only during training activities. High pressure lines are defined as any water hose used for fire suppression with a pressure greater than 150 pound per square inch (psi), any air hose with a pressure greater than 100 psi and any hydraulic hose used for rescue tools with a pressure greater than 1,000 psi.

Question: Can junior (minor) firefighters who are 16 or 17 years of age use high pressure lines, (hydraulic, air and water) in excess of limits if properly trained?
Answer: Yes for junior firefighters 16 or 17 years of age may operate high pressure lines if properly trained. Properly trained means the minor has successfully completed a course of training equal to the standard for basic firefighting established by the State Fire Commissioner and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The minor must also be under the direct supervision and control of the fire chief, an experienced line officer or a designated forest fire warden.

Question: Can junior (minor) firefighters participate in forest fire fighting activities?
Answer: Yes and No. The Child Labor Act adopted the prohibited occupations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The CLA prohibits all juniors age 14 or 15 from participating in forest fire fighting and forest fire prevention activities. This would include minors fighting grass, brush and field fires according to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Juniors of 16 and 17 years of age are permitted to clear fire trails and roads, construction, maintain and patrol fire lines, pile and burn slash, maintain firefighting equipment and act as a fire lookout of fire patrol as long as those tasks are not performed in conjunction with or support of fire firefighting efforts during an active forest fire. Remember they must be properly trained, under the direct supervision and control of the fire chief, an experienced line officer or a designated forest fire warden. Any uses of chain saws by minors are prohibited under both the CLA and FLSA. Recommendation, if the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) resources are engaged in firefighting activities, confirm status of junior firefighters to be used for fire suppression efforts before committing those personnel.

Question: Can junior (minor) firefighters operate certain types of power cutting tools?
Answer: No, junior firefighters many not operate chain saws, band saws, guillotine shears, circular saws, reciprocating saws, wood chippers or abrasive cutting discs.

Question: If a junior (minor) firefighter has graduated from high school at age 17 are they still considered minors under the Child Labor Act?
Answer: Yes, 17 year old junior firefighters who have graduated high school or who have been declared by the chief school administrator to have achieved their academic potential are still covered by the Child Labor Act. Graduation or termination of high school only provides release of the hour restrictions defined in the Child Labor Act. Everything else in the Act still applies to minors including permits until they reach 18 years of age.

Question: If a student is still in school but is 18 years of age, are they still considered a minor?
Answer: No, under the CLA they are not considered a minor and are not bound by the CLA restrictions. However, you should consult with the educational institution regarding school attendance requirements.

Question: Can a junior (minor) firefighter enter a burning structure?
Answer: No, a minor may not enter a burning structure under any circumstances including a training exercise.

Question: What can 14-15 year old do?
Answer: Minors under 16 years of age (more than 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age) shall only be permitted to participate and engage in organized nonhazardous training; first aid (if trained accordingly); clean up service (rolling hose, putting away tools and removing debris), outside the structure and the collapse zone only after the fire has been declared by the fire official in charge to be under control; and serving food and beverage (canteen services during fire incident and emergency operations.

Question: What is considered work time?
Answer: Time that a minor is socializing after work or during other non-working times is not viewed as on-duty time for purposes of the Child Labor Act (CLA). This type of activity, however, may be viewed as on-duty work if the fire company is aware of the minor’s presence on the premises during non-work time and does not object to the minor performing work during this time. Therefore, a fire company should take measures to ensure that minors are not working or allowed to perform work while they are socializing at the station. Time attending meetings or “manning” the station should be considered work.

Question: Is a home school or cyber school junior (minor) firefighter required to follow the same restrictions as those that attend a local public school?
Answer: Yes, the time limitations for junior (minor) firefighters are the same.

Question: If a student is enrolled in cyber school and has a break in classes in the middle of the day are they able to run calls during that time frame, granted that they return as to not miss the next class?
Answer: The CLA defines “hours of employment” as hours outside school hours established by the appropriate school district. The definition of “hours of employment” thus restricts minors’ work hours to those outside “school hours” established by the appropriate school district. The appropriate school district likely would be the school district that issued the minor the work permit. Therefore, the minor is not allowed to work during hours defined by the school district that issued the work permit to be its “school hours.”

Question: Who needs required background checks?
Answer: Act 153 of 2014 requires periodic background checks for both employees and volunteers who are directly involved with children. Under law, volunteers must obtain the clearances if they have direct volunteer contact, meaning they have care, supervision, guidance or control AND routine interaction with children. This is the standard that will apply to determine whether an adult volunteer must get the background checks every five years. The two main clearances are the Department of Human Resources child abuse clearance and the state police criminal background check. The fees for these checks are waived for volunteers and are reduced to $8 each for employees. The volunteer clearances cannot be used for employment. For additional information go to www.osfc.pa.gov and click on the link “Background Checks for Volunteers”.