FASNY hosts youth training day, teens get hands-on experience

Junior firefighters from across the state got the chance of a lifetime on Friday.

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it– and there are young firefighters in New York State that want it to be them.

“I’ve wanted to be a firefighter since, like, 2nd grade so I kinda started early- got in to it early, really early,” says junior firefighter Robert Pelusio.

Professionals from the Syracuse Fire Department and the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York were there to coach them through every step. Lt. Brian Falise of the Syracuse FD says, “They’re getting a chance to see how a career department operates and how we operate and the level of training that we undertake on a daily basis.”

It’s the annual youth training day at the FASNY convention. This year teens got to train using state of the art equipment.

Pelusio explains the impact it had on him saying, “the stuff that I’m learning might actually keep me from dying in an actual situation for if I’m in a fire.”

That is where the junior firefighters start, but it’s more than the equipment that keeps them around.

Elizabeth Roberts is a RAM at the Baldwinsville Fire Department. She says what makes her love the industry she’s in is the people. “It’s the look on peoples faces when they need you and when someone says thank you and it’s the worst day of their life. Yea, there’s the other calls where people are always grumpy but you know that they’re thankful you’re there and able to help them,” she adds.

The professional firefighters say this annual event benefits them too. It’s a great recruitment tool for fire departments throughout New York.