A partnership between four local schools and nine area fire departments is taking steps to get students exploring potential careers in firefighting while gaining post-secondary credits and real-world experience.  The Kewaunee County Junior Firefighter Program includes three students from Luxemburg-Casco High School and five others from the Kewaunee, Algoma, and Denmark school districts.  Last Saturday, the group participated in a ladder work practice at the NWTC Fire Academy in Green Bay.  Luxemburg-Casco School District Director of Learning Services Mike Snowberry says the program helps to offset the shortage of firefighters available to respond to emergency calls during the day.  Although the junior firefighters are limited in what they can do during an actual fire call, the students attend meetings with the fire department, where they are assigned to learn the ropes and train every month.

The Kewaunee County Junior Firefighter Program received a $24,525 grant last year to purchase Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for students. Snowberry says the program has allowed students to be treated like adults while giving them the opportunity to become comfortable with something new and show the confidence needed to be successful. Snowberry is thankful for collaborating with all the fire departments to make the program work.