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Students join fire cadet program  Share
Students interested in going into the fire service now have an opportunity to see what it's all about before they commit themselves. The Peotone Fire Department began a cadet program about 15 years ago to teach young adults about firefighting. Firefighter Scott Vrabel has headed the program for the past five years; however, this is the first time in recent years that there has been participation in the program. ''We've been trying to do a push for participation, but there hasn't been any interest, so these are really the first two students we've had in a while,'' Vrabel said. Peotone High School sophomore Alec Mulvihill and senior Matthew Giblin began going through the cadet program last month. The group meets at the fire station on Monday nights from 7-9 p.m., and Vrabel teaches them about basics about the fire service and basic emergency medical training.
''What we do is go through what they would go through for their curriculum if they were in the fire academy,'' Vrabel said. ''We get them ready for getting into the fire academy and let them get their foot in the door and see if they want to do this before they invest their money into it.'' Mulvihill has always wanted to be a firefighter and when he heard that the class would give him information and training that would help him become one, he signed up for the program. ''I like to help people and I want a job that you can get out there and work with your hands and you get to help people,'' he said. ''It's kind of like the perfect job.'' Giblin's grandfather served as a firefighter for Chicago Heights for 27 years and that's what piqued his interest in the profession. ''Basically, when people are running out, you're running in,'' he said. ''That's the most exciting part. You're going in to confront it face to face.'' Giblin took a fire science class last year at the Kankakee Area Career Center and plans to take it again during his senior year, but he said the cadet program offers different experiences and information. ''At the Career Center, it's just fire,'' he said. ''In the cadet program, we learn about fire for an hour and then medical stuff for an hour.'' Mulvihill and Giblin said Vrabel has been teaching them about the way buildings are constructed, about fire behavior and its stages and how buildings burn, as well as body parts and basic medical techniques. ''It's definitely a beneficial program for anyone looking to have a career in the fire service to allow them a chance to see if this is right for them,'' Vrabel said. ''It lets them test the waters before they commit to the education and effort.'' The classes are free and open to anyone ages 16-20. Those interested can pick up an application at the fire house or attend a Monday night class. Katie Carr is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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