Texas Co. Sets New Rules for Junior Firefighters

June 12, 2013
The West Orange junior firefighters will help with equipment, but not enter burning buildings.

June 12--WEST ORANGE -- Times and situations change, requiring updating rules and regulations.

The West Orange Volunteer Fire Department submitted new rules and regulations for junior firefighters to the City Council for approval at the 5:30 p.m. Monday meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Shirley Bonnin voiced concerns for one item under Fire Calls.

The items reads, "Once the Junior Firefighter arrives one scene, he/she shall get his/her gear and stand by the truck on-scene and await orders. No Junior Firefighter on a fire scene shall be in a hot or warm zone unless approved by Incident Commander."

"It is not a good idea for a kid to go into a fire," Bonnin said.

Assistant Fire Chief Dean Dyson said the junior firefighters would not be going into a fire.

"This is why we brought it to the council," Dyson said. "So we could iron it out. We would never send a junior firefighter into a fire."

Junior Firefighters at the scene of a fire assist firefighters with equipment, change air bottles, pick up equipment and roll the hoses after the fire.

The item was removed from the regulations and the amended rules and regulations was approved by the council.

The council also approved establishing a line item in the General Funds Balance Sheet to show Hotel/Motel tax funds.

"We want to separate it and make it more clear," Mayor Roy McDonald said.

City Secretary Theresa Van Meter said she spoke with the auditor and the change would not have to go more than five year.

The mayor announced the WO-S Alumni 5k Run will take place 8 a.m. -11 a.m. Saturday, August 31. No other details concerning the event were available at press time.

The next city council meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 24 at the West Orange Community Center.

Copyright 2013 - The Orange Leader, Texas

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