Kaden currently has ten certifications under his belt, and there are many more to come his way. He has put in well over 130 hours to do this, but why?
This junior is studying to be a machinist, and while he is quite interested in his shop, it is Kaden's dream to one day become a firefighter. He currently volunteers with Wurtemburg-Perry Volunteer Fire Department, just two minutes down the road from his home in Ellwood City.
His most memorable call would be a call to battle a garage fire in neighboring Franklin Township; because, at his age, he is not able to enter the interior of a structure if a fire has started, he still had plenty to do on the exterior. He recalls that there was a "woman who ran, screaming, by me so close, she almost ran into me. Though she startled me, I realized how much fire-fighters can do to help others and how important our job is."
Kaden plans to continue his studies at BC3 and earn as many certifications as he can. Once he is 18, he plans to begin studying Firefighting Essentials to become from a full-fledged firefighter.
What has he studied so far? To date, Kaden has earned the following certifications:
- Emergency Management Institute (FEMA) certificates
- National Incident Management System
- Introduction to Incident Command System
- BC3 Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
- Fireground Support (32 hours)
- Delmar Hazardous Materials Awareness (4 hours)
- Introduction to Fire Service (16 hours)
- Basic Firemanship
- Exterior Firefighter (52 hours)
- Delmar Hazardous Materials Operations (26 hours)
- Bucks County Community College
- Fire Dynamics Fundamentals
- Fire Dynamics Strategy & Tactics
If Kaden could give advice to others interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, he would say for those young men and women to "get involved as soon as possible." How soon? No earlier than 14.
Are we the only ones proud of Kaden and his accomplishments? No-siree! As posted on the Wurtemburgh VFD Facebook page: "The members of Wurtemburg - Perry V.F.D would like to congratulate our Jr. Firefighter Kaden Fernandez on completing Intro to Firefighting, Fire Ground Support, Exterior Firefighter, Haz Mat Awareness & Haz Mat Operations. He will complete the Essentials program next year when he turns 18. Great Job!!"
We agree, Kaden. Great job! We wish you luck!
