Small Town News

Firefighter program a win-win

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JOURNAL EDITORIAL

Summertime in Mason County can't be beat. But while warmer temperatures bring plenty of outdoor fun, they also increase the likelihood of wildfires, structure fires and other emergencies.

That's why we're glad to have such proactive firefighters in our communities.

In this week's Belfair Herald, Brianna Loper writes about a new wilderness fire training program through the North Mason Regional Fire Authority. The program, which has four North Mason students signed up so far, pays for young men and women who are at least 18 years old to become certified to fight land fires in Washington.

Graduates of the program will be on-call for fires throughout the state, and can receive a $2,000 scholarship at the end of the summer.

We can't think of a better way for students to learn the necessary training to become firefighters than by volunteering in their own backyard. Students not only learn valuable teamwork and life-saving skills, they can earn money that they can put toward higher education.

We don't need to use this space to talk about how amazing our firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics are. Just after midnight Saturday in downtown Shelton, firefighters bravely responded to a fire at the old Cameron Hotel on Second and Grove streets.

Just minutes after first responders showed up to the area, the 89-year-old structure collapsed, bringing home the stark reminders that firefighters face danger every time they step out of their trucks.

We hope that these students can learn from the men and women who run toward danger — not away from it — every day in our community.



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