Board members of the Essential Emergency Services Training Program have started an initiative to get more volunteer involvement in firefighting and EMT services in the local area with a three-year plan starting later this year.

According to Dick Rivers, board member of the program, the need for volunteers in the fields of firefighting and EMT services have been in “serious need” for a few years.

“So we came up with a plan to get high school students interested in volunteering early,” Rivers said. “And the best is that most are excited just to get the opportunity, which makes it easier to get volunteers.”

A similar plan began back in 2016 to increase the number of volunteers in emergency services through a high school training program, but funding seemed to be an issue.

“That’s when we stepped in. The goal is to raise funds and get commitments from local townships, boroughs and counties,” Rivers said.

So far, Rivers said the organization has reached commitments from 22 different townships, boroughs and counties, and they hope to accrue $100,000 a year to fund the programs in each of those areas. But it won’t stop with that.

The program will also aim to raise funds through donations from several service organizations, businesses and industries that themselves may need people that have training in first aid and basic fire safety like fire extinguishing.

The three-year program is anticipated to start in August at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center in Port Allegany. While discussions with school superintendents in Bradford may open the possibility for Bradford Area High School students to join, Bradford Township fire chief Dan Burkhouse said it may be difficult for Bradford high students to make the commute.

“It’s a almost an hour out, so I’m not sure we’ll see results here in volunteer numbers,” he said. “But of course, if you never try it out, you’ll never know.”

Burkhouse said he supports the initiative to increase volunteer involvement through youth programs, as he cited the over 20 years of a junior firefighting program in the local area.

“Getting people interest early is always great,” he said, “and we know that junior programs work. We just have to wait and see how this all plays out and hope for the best.”