Shaker Road Fire Department celebrates 50 years of Fire Explorer program

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Friday night was the annual Shaker Road Fire Department‘s Open House. Hundreds came out to the festivities to learn more about their Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week. This year was a little more significant than the years past as they’re celebrating 50 years of their Fire Explorer Post 475.

Bud Burton is one of the original advisors and he said, “It’s like in evolution. Every so often something big happens and I can’t wait to see what’s next.” Burton was there decades ago when the Fire Explorer Post was first formed back in 1975. “Our president was approached by the Boy Scouts, appointed a three-man committee.” 

All these years later the message has stayed the same, to inspire the next generation to become first responders and firefighters. “At best, we thought we could use it for recruitment and at worst it was still getting teenagers off the street,” said Burton.

He said the Fire Explorers are responsible for all their own fundraising, each one of them having a role throughout the fire district.  He said the ways of fundraising back then to now have changed but at the open house a new generation was on full display. “My cousin does it, my godfather does it, my other two cousins,” said Jack Monette, 15-year-old Fire Explorer. He said it’s a family thing.  

And in a time where there’s a desperate need for first responders, they say these Fire Explorers are helping with recruitment. “Shaker Roads entire reason for starting the explorer post was to get more volunteers. And 50 years later, half of or more than half of our chiefs have been past explorers. Like almost half the department is past explorers right now,” 15-year-old Fire Explorer Captain, Reagan Carlson said it also a great resume builder. “You can put a bunch of stuff on your application. I mean, like we don’t go only over fire stuff. There’s event planning, public speaking, power tools, just building stuff.”

And when it comes to what these firefighters see and hear on a daily basis Chief Eric Brizzell explained that talking about their mental health is an important aspect of the job, “It’s sort of in the spotlight so people have to deal with it, now. When we were, when I was younger, you were kind of taught to keep that stuff to yourself. You didn’t let it bother you. And now they want you to go out and talk, which I agree that is the right way to do it. You shouldn’t keep stuff inside. You have to get it out not bottle it up.”

As for Bud he said he is waiting for what’s next to come, “I like to call it, they have a life of its own. Yeah, I don’t know what the heck’s going to happen next. I just can’t wait.”

Scan the UR code below for more on how to become a Fire Explorer.