40 students in Saugeen Shores are getting a lesson in firefighting training and safety.
The Junior Firefighter Program is in it’s first of five weeks at the Port Elgin Station.
Fire Prevention Officer Jeff Dahms says members of the department volunteer their time to put on the program at no cost.
Dahms says they cover four main components – home fire safety, fire extinguisher training, auto extrication with a basic first aid and fire truck operations.
He says they basically learn how the fire department actually operates.
He says the program is very important because it instills home fire safety into the children – like the importance of escape plans, smoke alarms and making your home safer.
Dahms says they even do a fire simulation where the kids will get to practice putting out flames with an extinguisher.
Currently the Saugeen Shores Fire Department has 5 firefighters who went through the Junior Firefighting Program in the past.
Dahms says the program helps children figure out if firefighting is a career they would like to pursue or not.
The program has been running for 18 years.