By Mari Kanagy, Reporter
The Vashon Island Fire and Rescue (VIFR) Explorer program gives high school students the opportunity to learn about the fire service and emergency medical services (EMS).
The program is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), which provides them with insurance, instructor training and access to BSA’s facilities.
Most of the funding, however, comes directly from VIFR.
“We have a line item budget within the fire department budget which provides us with supervisor training,” Explorer Program Adviser Rick Brown said.
Brown works at the Washington State Fire Training Academy (FTA) in North Bend, and also works as a volunteer lieutenant for VIFR.
“We are trying to show [students] the better side of the fire service, and what a great job it can be,” Brown said.
The program influenced two Explorers, seniors Katie Taisey and Ethan Starr, in forming their career aspirations.
“I was planning on going into law enforcement, but this program introduced me to the other side of emergency response,” Starr said.
Taisey is interested in the other aspect of the VIFR Explorer program: EMS.
“I always wanted to do medical — I just wasn’t really sure what area I was interested in,” Taisey said. “I realized that I really like working with trauma patients, and trying to [work] fast.”
The island’s branch of the program, Post 2134, was started in the 1980s under the leadership of Kit Selig. In 1985, Brown and his wife, Deborah, took over they program. They have been running it ever since.
The group meets every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Penny Farcy Trading Center. Every week they work on a different skill relating to fire service, alternating between fire skills and EMS skills.
“One night we might don our bunker gear and put on some air packs and do a … simulated search,” Brown said. “Then the next week we’d do a … scenario where we’ll simulate a neck injury and have someone be put on a backboard.”
Developing EMS skills also grants Explorers with CPR certification.
“They get way deeper training than a typical CPR first aid course,” Brown said. “We go into pretty much [Emergency Medical Technician]-level work with them.”
Not only does the program give Explorers fire and EMS training, but it also provides them with community service hours. A typical Explorer earns between 200 and 300 hours per year.
The program participates in training sessions outside of weekly meetings.
The Washington Association of Future Firefighters hosts a yearly program at the FTA. The event generally draws about 100 participants.
Explorer groups from across the state form teams of four and compete with each other in fire service drills. Last year, the Vashon Explorers took a group of students to compete.
“The thing about fire service is that we are very much a family,” Brown said. “When we get together with other Explorer groups, it really reinforces that.”
In January, the Explorers had a weekend training course at the Benson House in Burton. During the course, the group worked on hands-on rescue training such as descension from ropes and hose work.
Explorers volunteer for projects and activities in the community such as the Vashon Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration.
They are also helping run the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, a fundraising event at the Columbia Tower.
“Our Explorers will be on the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower changing out [self-contained breathing apparatus] bottles as the firefighters come up the stairs,” Brown said. “It’s quite an honor to do that because not even the public gets to actually be in the building.”
Brown, along with VIFR Chief Charley Krimmer, are in support of extending the program to give Explorers the opportunity to volunteer during fire emergencies.
The possible expansion would involve experienced Explorers to be dispatched to the location of significant Island incidents in which VIFR is needed.
“What we’re trying to do is make that a regular responding part of our department,” Brown said.
For instance, during the Vashon Energy propane fire in December of 2016, some Explorers were able to set up rehab centers for firefighters at the site.
Anyone interested in becoming an Explorer can visit www.vifr.org or call (206) 463–2405.