The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has named Jennifer Schaefer of the Burlington Rural Fire Department as the recipient of this year’s Junior Firefighter of the Year Award. Outstanding youth from across the country were nominated for this year’s award, which was made possible through the support of Tyco.
The award will be presented with other national fire service awards during a special banquet at the NVFC’s spring meeting on May 2, 2014, in Alexandria, Virginia. Schaefer will receive a trip to Alexandria (just outside of Washington, D.C.) to attend the award ceremony and a $500 scholarship to continue her fire service training.
Schaefer has been a junior firefighter with the Burlington Rural Fire Department for over four years. She spends as much time as possible at the station, helping with truck checks, building maintenance, filling out reports, shoveling snow–whatever is needed to keep the department ready for the next call. She has also been actively involved with the department’s fire prevention program. Schaefer broke a record in North Dakota as the youngest person to take and pass the Firefighter One Essentials Five test. In addition to Firefighter I, she holds certifications in extrication, Instructor I, first aid, CPR-AED, water rescue, fireground communications, hazmat awareness, and more.
Crediting her father’s excitement for the fire service as her inspiration for become a junior firefighter, Schaefer has stayed committed to the program to better herself, her community, and her fellow firefighters. When not at the department, she is also a member of the National Honor Society and President of her local chapter of the Future Farmers of America. After graduating in May, she plans to pursue a degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University.
Learn more about all of the NVFC’s awards at www.nvfc.org/awards. For more information on starting a growing a junior firefighter program, visit www.nvfc.org/juniors.
Award Sponsors
National Volunteer Fire Council: The NVFC is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
Tyco – Tyco is the world’s largest pure-play fire protection and security company. Tyco provides more than three million customers around the globe with the latest fire protection and security products and services. A company with $10+ billion in revenue, Tyco has more than 70,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations across 50 countries serving various end markets, including commercial, institutional, governmental, retail, industrial, energy, residential and small business. Learn more at www.tyco.com.
