| When students at John Jay High School in Cross River hit the gym floor, their usual routines will be put on the back burner.
That’s because firefighters from the Katonah, Golden’s Bridge, South Salem, and Vista fire departments will transform gym class into real-life training grounds, complete with emergency response scenarios, as part of a dynamic recruitment initiative known as “Trial by Fire.” The two-day program, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, April 29 and 30, is designed to spark students’ interest in becoming volunteer firefighters.
This marks the third consecutive year the four local volunteer fire departments have collaborated to bring the program to John Jay students. As in previous years, Katonah firefighter Laurie DeRosa says it won’t be a typical gym class.
“We are bringing the firefighting experience directly to them,” said DeRosa. “It’s a unique opportunity for young people to encounter firsthand the excitement, challenges, and rewards of serving their community in this very meaningful way as volunteer firefighters and first responders.”
DeRosa, a nearly eight-year member and former captain of the Katonah Fire Department, currently serves as chair of retention and recruiting.
The centerpiece of Trial by Fire is a timed, multi-station obstacle course that incorporates simulated emergency scenarios with real firefighting techniques.
“It is high-intensity and fast-paced,” said Saurabh Mehta, a six-year firefighter with the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department and an engine company lieutenant. “The activities immerse students in real-life situations, testing their strength, agility, and endurance. It also shows the importance of communication, teamwork, and trusting the person alongside you.”
According to fire officials, the program offers far more than a basic introduction.
“This isn’t a lecture or a show-and-tell,” DeRosa said. “It literally puts students in our gear and challenges them with what we face as firefighters.”
The activities are both physically and mentally demanding. Students will drag a fire department training manikin—designed to simulate the weight of an unconscious person—to safety; haul hoses up bleacher stairs while wearing 65 pounds of gear; breach a wall with a sledgehammer; hoist tools using a rope system; navigate a confined-space escape while wearing an air pack; and apply problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills throughout the course.
Firefighters, including DeRosa, Mehta, and several John Jay alumni, will guide students through each station.
Trial by Fire has proven to be an effective recruitment tool for the participating departments, which are working to address ongoing challenges in volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention nationwide. Between 2008 and 2023, the number of volunteer firefighters in the United States declined by nearly a quarter.
“Trial by Fire is a creative and compelling way to spark curiosity among high school students, give them a deeper appreciation for community service, and potentially inspire them to join the volunteer fire service,” DeRosa said. “They are the next generation of firefighters.” |
