Teen Fire Dept Volunteers in Botetourt can go into burning buildings

Junior firefighters ages 16 and 17 now can go into burning buildings if they have a minimum training certification and permission from their parents.

The Board of Supervisors on July 26, 2022 held a public hearing at Greenfield on a proposed change to the county ordinance allowing young people to assist on fire calls.

No one from the public spoke at the public hearing, and the issue passed with little comment.

Jason Ferguson, Botetourt Fire-EMS Chief, had told the Board of Supervisors at the June 28 meeting that it had been determined that the county code, which allowed junior members to join and earn certification but not enter burning structures, was too strict.

With this change, that is no longer the case.

–Anita Firebaugh Special to The Botetourt Bee