ST. GEORGE — No matter what a kid says they want to grow up to be, at some point they want to pretend to be a firefighter. Kids and the kid in those who aren’t will get a chance to get a taste of the firefighting life in Ivins on Saturday, and younger adults will get a chance to take that passion further.
The Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Department is opening the garage doors of its Ivins Center Street Fire Station at 90 W. Center Street from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday for a rare open house open to everyone. At the same time, the department is using the event to launch Southern Utah’s first-of-its-kind Explorer program for aspiring firefighters.
While kids will likely be the most eager to check out the hoses, fire trucks and fire gear, grown-ups are also welcome to take part.
“People will get to look at equipment up close, talk to personnel,” Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Chief Andrew Parker told St. George News. “And if someone is interested in Explorers, they’ll be able to make that commitment.”
The national Explorer program – affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America but open to all genders – gives young people a chance to be mentored in a vocation or public service they may be interested in for their future and gain skills with hands-on experience.
Also called Exploring, it is more commonly known for the law enforcement Explorer programs, including the Washington County Sherrif Explorer Program. However, the Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Explorers, open to young adults ages 16 to 21, will be the first time the region has seen a firefighting program.
“They can get their feet wet,” Parker said. “They can go along for rides, go to calls and even get certifications.”
Santa Clara-Ivins firefighter Ariel Merhav is credited with helping get the local Fire Explorer program going, but it still has a special place in his fire chief’s heart. Parker was a Fire Explorer himself in his youth and he gives that head start credit to what he has become today.
“It was amazing to get that real-life experience,” he said.
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