The firefighter in Kewaunee County you might see responding to a call in the not-to-distant future may be one of the three students who just finished the first year of the Kewaunee County Junior Firefighter Program.  The initiative is a partnership between the Luxemburg-Casco, Algoma, Denmark, and Kewaunee school districts and eight area fire departments.

Three Luxemburg-Casco students began coursework at NWTC last fall toward their Firefighter 1 certification.  Mathew Zellner, one of the students following the firefighter career pathway, completed his courses and is a Junior Firefighter with the Luxemburg Community Fire Department.   

Luxemburg-Casco School District Director of Learning Services Mike Snowberry says the program is an excellent way for students to explore a potential career in firefighting while gaining post-secondary credits and real-world experience.

Junior Firefighters, ages 16-19, are expected to respond to emergency calls and operate under the supervision of Senior Firefighters. Strict laws exist to protect minors from the most hazardous dangers.  

The Kewaunee County Junior Firefighter Program—which supports the fire departments of Algoma, Carlton, Casco, Denmark, Kewaunee, Luxemburg, New Franken, and Tisch Mills—was one of four Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) grant winners. The grant of $24,525 will be used to purchase full Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for students.