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Newest firefighter on call

Agassiz teen steps up to join fire hall thanks to youth program
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Ross McInroy

There is nothing that Ross McInroy wants more than to be a firefighter. He has his sites set on the Justice Institute of B.C. after graduation. He's ready to be put into service. He wants the job, more than anything else.

But he's also just 15 years old, and there's that whole school commitment that needs to come first. Not to mention he's just a little too young for some of the dangers of the job.

Luckily for McInroy, the Agassiz Fire Department has a plan, designed especially for kids like him. Through their Junior Firefighter program — and with McInroy's parents' permission — the AESS teen was able to strap on a pair of work boots, don the tie and pin, and begin his new career.

Fire Chief Wayne Dyer said the program is a perfect fit for McInroy. He can go along to fire calls, doing useful but less dangerous tasks such as helping to move equipment.

And if he is on a call that has the potential to be traumatic, such as a fatal car accident, he won't be allowed to access the scene closely.

But he will be receiving a valuable, hands-on lesson in the realities of fire rescue.

McInroy has been sure of his intended career path for years, he said during the fire hall's open house on Saturday.

"I just have the feeling that maybe I could help someone someday," he said.

Once McInroy graduates from high school, he plans on attending the Justice Institute of B.C.

news@ahobserver.com



Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
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