SARATOGA, Texas — The future of the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department looks promising after trainings were held for the next generation of Southeast Texas firefighters.
The volunteer-based department has held the Junior Volunteer Firefighter Program for the last 10 years.
This program gives teenagers hands-on experience that comes with being a firefighter.
Program participants between the ages of 15 to 18 meet Monday evenings, where they learn a range of life-saving skills, like observing wind direction.
"If the fires coming towards you, you don't want to be where the fires going to be going. So, the easiest way to fight a brush fire is from where it's already burnt because it can't burn where it's already burnt," said Junior Volunteer, Doug Baker.
Baker is currently a senior in high school. Back in the day, his grandfather was a fire chief, which encouraged him to join the Saratoga Junior Volunteer Program.
Baker plans on being an adult volunteer after graduation.
"Doug he's 17 so it won't be long and he'll be a, just a regular firefighter, and not just a junior and he'll already be trained in 90% of what needs to be done," said Dispatcher and Secretary for the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department, Cindy Flowers.
Just like Baker, freshman Kylie Guidry wants to be an adult volunteer one day and follow in her mother's footsteps.
"I learned how to lock in your legs on the ladder, like how to get the hose up and how to carry the ladder up there," Guidry said.
The junior volunteers make a huge impact on their community and are looking for water bottle and Gatorade donations.
Anyone interested in donating can contact the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department on their Facebook page.
"I don't know if we could sometimes survive without some of our juniors, you know? There always there to help," Flowers said.
Teens interested in joining this program can fill out a form at the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department, located at 16628 FM-770.
The deadline is every Monday at 7 p.m.