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Muscatine Fire Explorers program seeks recruits, highlights training and fundraising
Summary
A Muscatine Fire Department representative described the Fire Explorers youth program on Oct. 7, noting training, equipment purchases and a nonprofit fundraising effort that raised roughly $36,000 over two years.
MUSCATINE, Iowa — A representative of the Muscatine Fire Department described the department's Fire Explorers youth program at the Oct. 7 City Council meeting, outlining training activities, recruitment and a related nonprofit fundraising effort.
A department speaker identified as Michael (no last name provided) said the program serves youth ages 14 to 21 and does not restrict participation by distance; members currently come from Muscatine and nearby communities. "This program actually, Muscatine has had one for a long time... We started back up in 02/2021," Michael said, describing training that includes ice rescue, rappelling, search and rescue, hose-line advancement and CPR.
Michael said the Muscatine Firefighters Charitable Association was formed to support the program financially and that about $36,000 has been raised in the last two years to buy equipment and send explorers to training at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. "We've been able to purchase five complete sets of fire gear," he said.
The program meets the first and third Sunday each month, usually from 6 to 8 p.m., and the speaker invited interested youth to message the department on Facebook or contact the fire department for meeting times.
Councilmembers praised the program's community presence; Councilmember Gordon encouraged continued social-media outreach after noting the explorers' good representation at a recent open house.
Ending: The council heard the presentation without formal action; staff and the nonprofit will continue recruitment and fundraising to support the explorers program.
