Will Students Thrive Under 'Trial By Fire' Pressure In A Unique Fitness Challenge?

WESCTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — High school students will soon have a chance to see if they have "the right stuff," as an annual tradition returns to a Westchester school gym.

From Golden's Bridge Fire Department.

When students at John Jay High School in Cross River hit the gym floor, their usual routines will be put on the back burner. That’s because firefighters from the Katonah, Golden’s Bridge, South Salem, and Vista Fire Departments will be turning gym class into real-life firefighting training grounds and emergency scenarios as part of a dynamic recruitment initiative known as “Trial by Fire.” The two-day program, which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, April 29 and 30, is designed to spark the interest of students in becoming volunteer firefighters.

This is the third consecutive year that the four local volunteer fire departments are collaborating to bring the program to John Jay students. As in previous years, Katonah firefighter Laurie DeRosa promises it won’t be a typical gym class for the high schoolers.

“We are bringing the firefighting experience directly to them! It’s a unique opportunity for young people to encounter, firsthand, the excitement, challenges and rewards of serving their community in this very meaningful way, as a volunteer firefighter and first-responder,” said DeRosa, a nearly eight-year member and former captain of the Katonah Fire Department, who serves as its chair of retention and recruiting.

The centerpiece of Trial by Fire is a timed, multi-station obstacle course that incorporates simulated emergency response scenarios with firefighting training and techniques.

“It is high-intensity and fast-paced. The activities immerse the students in real-life situations, testing their strength, agility and endurance. It also shows the importance of communicating and working as a team, trusting the person alongside you,” said Saurabh Mehta, a six-year firefighter with the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department who serves as engine company lieutenant.

The dynamic Trial by Fire program provides more than a glimpse into what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter, according to the fire officials. “This isn’t a lecture class, or a show-and-tell session. It literally puts young people in our gear and puts them to the test of what we find ourselves up against as firefighters,” explained DeRosa.

The Trial by Fire activities are physically and mentally challenging: dragging to safety a fire department training manikin, with the weight and feel of an unconscious person overcome by smoke; hauling hose up bleacher stairs while wearing 65 pounds of firefighter gear; breaching a wall with a sledgehammer; hoisting tools using a rope system; performing a tight space escape while wearing an air pack, and implementing problem-solving, communications and teamwork skills. Firefighters, like DeRosa and Mehta – and some who are John Jay graduates – will be providing instruction every step of the way.

Trial by Fire has become an effective way for the Katonah, Golden’s Bridge, South Salem, and Vista Fire Departments to address the recruitment and retention challenges being experienced by most volunteer emergency services agencies across the country. From 2008 to 2023, the volunteer fire service in the U.S. has lost nearly a quarter of its members

“Trial by Fire is a creative and compelling way to awaken the curiosity of these high school students, provide them with a greater appreciation of community service, and maybe even inspire them to one day join the ranks of the volunteer fire service. They are the next generation of volunteer firefighters.” Mehta said.

This press release was produced by the Golden's Bridge Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.