Council hears proposal for fire department cadet program, staff flags insurance limits
Summary
Council discussed a proposed cadet/junior firefighter program intended to recruit younger volunteers; staff recommended adopting a council resolution and standard operating guidelines and noted insurance limits on cadet exposure to emergency scenes.
The council heard a presentation about creating a cadet or junior firefighter program to recruit younger volunteers and build a pipeline for the volunteer fire department. Andy and staff described model guidelines used by nearby departments and suggested adopting a policy (SOG) and a parental waiver rather than embedding cadet rules in bylaws.
Insurance company guidance was raised during the discussion: staff said insurers had recommended strict limits on exposure, including restricting cadets from acting independently at emergency scenes and emphasizing direct supervision. As staff summarized: "they can. They just have to be held to a safe place. they can't be interacting in anything that's...they're not going on any accident scene," while also noting some departments allow supervised, non‑frontline participation for training and station activities.
Councilors generally expressed support for exploring the program and asked staff to draft SOGs and a resolution outlining parental waivers and supervision requirements for future formal adoption. Staff will return with proposed policy language and insurance confirmation before recruiting or formalizing participation.
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