1. Fire Prevention: The Juniors are instructed by our fire prevention committee on how to inform the public on the important subject of Fire Safety. They use this knowledge to assist in educating the community through our school programs as well as various presentations throughout the year at community events. This instruction focuses on both the prevention of fires and the appropriate actions to be taken if a fire occurs.
2. Training: The MJFD has an active training program in conjunction with the three companies of the fire department. The two engine companies drill the juniors in the various procedures necessary for an effective engine operation. This can range from water supply establishment to determining hose stretches to pump operations and various hose appliances. The truck company provides a wide variety of training. Laddering and search techniques comprise the bread and butter operations of the truck. However specialized training in Hazardous Materials, vehicle extrication and the most popular activity, rappelling, provide the distinct nature of truck work. In addition, training is given in basic first aid and CPR so that our juniors are prepared for everyday emergencies. These training courses are held in conjunction with the department line officers and members who are trained instructors with various agencies. In addition, plans are being made for the establishment of a training program at the Nassau County Firemen’s Training Academy in Bethpage where our juniors can receive more extensive instruction.
3. Fire Calls: Between the hours of 6:00am and 10:00pm the Juniors are allowed to respond to fire calls. All juniors are issued a department pager which informs them of the nature and location of alarm.
A. Radio Room: The Juniors are trained to respond to fire headquarters where they can man our Radio room. This position requires a great deal of responsibility and those juniors who are allowed to do so have completed a certification process ensuring their proficiency. By manning this position they free up a firefighter to respond to the fire call. Often times during emergencies this radio room can become the command center for the village with multiple requests for assistance being coordinated.
B. Cascade system: Juniors are also trained in the operation of the department Cascade system for the refilling of air tanks used in our Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. Once certified by an advisor, the junior will be responsible for ensuring that an adequate amount of air is recharged into the depleted SCBA bottle. This allows the department to restore its capabilities to full service in a relatively short period of time.
C. On-Scene Support: Every Junior Firefighter is issued a full set of Turnout gear which includes a coat, helmet, boots, and gloves. In the event of a major fire in Mineola the junior fire department may be utilized to perform support functions. These include crowd control, assisting in changing Air tanks, and mop up work such as packing hose and returning equipment to the apparatus to prepare for the next alarm.
4. Parades: Junior firefighters are issued uniforms. This uniform consists of pants, shirt and hat as well as a numbered badge. The Juniors participate in all the uniformed activities which the department attends, including parades. There are approximately 5 parades a year including a Memorial day parade in Mineola. These provide a chance to demonstrate our pride in the fire department and to display our fire apparatus. The parades are held throughout the county and are often followed by carnivals.
5. Activities: The Juniors participate in various department activities during the year. The annual installation dinner serves as an opportunity for our juniors to put on their uniforms and attend a department function. In addition, there are competitions such as the racing team which the juniors attend and lend their support. In the past, Juniors have participated in competitive events such as the bucket brigade and midnight alarm. In the past, we have held Junior Fire Department activities day in which we competed with Engine Co#3 in volleyball, ping pong, darts, hockey, billiards and the bucket brigade.
6. Field Trips: The juniors take various field trips through out the year. These range from day trips to extended overnight trips spanning several days. All trips are well chaperoned by our Fire department advisors who are post advisors with the Boy Scouts of America. In order to attend, Juniors must receive permission from their parent or guardian. Recent day trips have included a cruise and tour of a NYC Fire Boat, a trip to Howe Caverns in Upstate NY, a hiking trip to Bear Mountain Park and a tour of the fire communications center(FIRECOM). Our long trips have included an annual trip to the resort area of Lake George NY where we went to Great Escapes amusement park and enjoyed Go-cart racing and a water park as well. We have also travelled to Dorney Park in Pennasylvania and gone Snowtubing on Hunter mountain.
JOINING THE MINEOLA JUNIOR FIRE DEPARTMENT:
Membership in the juniors is open to anyone age 14-17 and residency in the village of Mineola is not required. You can come down to fire headquarters on any Monday night to speak with an advisor or you may contact us in the chiefs office at 747-5860 and leave a message. Our Business meetings take place on the first Monday of the month at Fire Headquarters, 170 Washington Ave in Mineola. They begin at 8:00pm. Training meetings are held every month with the respective companies.
TOP TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD JOIN:
1- RECEIVE TRAINING IN FIRE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION ON WHAT TO DO IF A FIRE OCCURS.
2- PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING COURSES WHICH INVOLVE HANDS ON FIREFIGHTING PRACTICES, INCLUDING ENGINE COMPANY OPERATIONS, LADDER COMPANY OPERATIONS AND RESCUE WORK.
3- LEARN HOW TO RESPOND TO EVERYDAY LIFE EMERGENCIES THROUGH OUR BASIC FIRST AID AND CPR COURSES.
4- RECEIVE A DEPARTMENT UNIFORM, BADGE, TURNOUT GEAR, AND PAGER.
5- UNDERGO TRAINING AS AN MFD DISPATCHER AND OPERATE THE RADIO ROOM FOR FIRES.
6- RESPOND TO FIRE CALLS IN MINEOLA AND ASSIST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON-SCENE.
7- MARCH IN FIRE DEPARTMENT PARADES AND COMPETE FOR TROPHIES.
8- BECOME INVOLVED IN SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH CHARITY FUND-RAISERS, FOOD DRIVES AND BRINGING SANTA OUT FOR CHRISTMAS.
9- TAKING EXCITING TRIPS TO SUCH DESTINATIONS AS LAKE GEORGE, HUNTER MOUNTAIN, AND BEAR MOUNTAIN. GO OUT FOR A TOUR ABOARD THE FDNY’S FIREBOAT.
10- BECOME A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY CREATED THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO LEAD TODAY’S FIRE SERVICE.
TO JOIN THE JUNIORS, CALL 747-5860 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE OR STOP DOWN AT FIRE HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT 170 WASHINGTON AVENUE BETWEEN WILLIS AVENUE AND MINEOLA BLVD. ON ANY MONDAY NIGHT AFTER 7:00 PM.
(THERE ARE NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS BUT YOU MUST BE 14YRS OLD OR IN HIGH SCHOOL)
Since 1976 the Mineola Junior Fire Department (MJFD) has served as the Mineola Fire Departments Youth Group, providing the youth of Mineola the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a member of a volunteer fire department.