The National Volunteer Fire Council has announced that the Westport Fire Department will receive the 2019 Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award.

This national award, sponsored by California Casualty, honors a junior firefighter program or Explorer Post that has demonstrated significant community impact, innovation, and creativity.

“We had a remarkable pool of nominees who demonstrate the meaning of excellence in the fire service, and we thank them all for their service,” said NVFC Chair Kevin D. Quinn. “We commend the Westport Fire Department Explorer Post #774 for the remarkable impact they have made on their department, community, and the fire service. The Explorers and advisors in this program showcase outstanding commitment and service, and their inspirational work embodies the incredible spirit and contributions of the volunteer fire service.”

“By all measures this program has been a great success,” said Post adviser and Westport firefighter Ann Marie Peckham. “ln three years, the Westport Fire Explorer Program has grown into a valuable asset for the future health and growth of my department. It even inspired a nearby community to develop a program of their own.”

Graduating Explorers in the program have gone on to the Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighting Academy or EMT-basic school and have taken the next step toward a career in fire and emergency medical services.

Established in 2016, the all-volunteer Westport’s Explorer Post #774 seeks to inspire its members and mentor them with the goal of creating future leaders in the fire service, a press release stated.

The Westport program has grown to 16 youth members and has a dedicated adult leadership staff. Youth members go through fire and EMS training curriculum. They become first responder certified, and once certified are eligible to join the department’s Emergency Management Agency. Once they become part of the EMA, they are allowed to operate with ancillary duties during fire incidents that keep them outside of the “hot zone.”

EMA Explorers have provided more than 100 community service hours over the last 12 months to fire department incidents and trainings and have participated in various community events as volunteers for festivals, open house events, and department functions, both in their own community and communities nearby.

Each year, the Westport Explorers put on a week-long intensive training camp and have involved other Fire Explorer Posts from Massachusetts and nearby states. The training camp has included various agencies such as other local fire departments, the Bristol County Technical Rescue Team, State Forest Fire Control, and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. During these events, local Scouting facilities are utilized as accommodations, additional training sites, and programming of team-building challenges facilitated by specialized Scouting program directors and staff.

The program has also helped to shape a new internship program at Westport High School; youth members are allowed to continue their training and ride along at the department while obtaining school credits. Since launching in November, fire department interns have completed over 60 training hours in addition to their weekly Post trainings. Explorers also participate in local fire department musters and bring a new energy to these events.

The Westport Explorers are: Dylan Soares, Cody Smeaton, Ryan Silvia, Brianna Furtado, Nicholas Roy, Andrew Silva, Camden DeMedeiros, Micah Angell, Nicholas Davis, Samuel Nalini, Jonathan Correia, Ariana Antunes, Trevon Vickeny-Gilheany, Liam Butler and Gabrielle Dasilva.

Advisors are: Chief Brian Legendre, Ann Marie Peckham, Kenneth Riley, Richard Busa, Bob Poraswki, Keith Nickelson, Michael Texeira, Michael Leger, Christopher Prichard, Kate Galop, Joseph Dupuis, Kirk Faria, Brian Beaulieu, Brian Moniz, Roger Maynard, Susan Maynard, Kenneth Nickelson, Linda Nickelson and Bruce Martin.