Commission approves fire-department cadet program to recruit local high-school students

The Canton City Commission approved a cadet program proposed by the volunteer fire department designed to recruit and prepare high-school students for future firefighting service. Kevin Chalk, assistant chief of the fire department, described the program as a multi-year recruiting and training pathway for 16- to 20-year-olds that would allow cadets to obtain up to Firefighter Level 1 certifications while restricting them from hazardous assignments until they reach age 18.

"We're hoping this will get some numbers into the department to help get us up," Chalk said, noting the department has roughly 19 members who live in town against an authorized strength of 40. He said the program has been developed over several years and cited model language and insurance guidance obtained from Pierre and other jurisdictions.

Chalk described program elements: age minimum 16 (the department chose 16 rather than the 14-year-old minimum appearing in a statewide template), attendance and performance expectations, written parental and employer permission for those with jobs, restrictions on school-time paging and public-call response during school hours, and an internal cadet leadership structure. The department said it would allow cadets to gain limited operational experience but would not permit cadets to perform hazardous tasks until they are legally adults.

Commissioners voiced support and asked operational questions about timing and cooperation with regional training providers. Chalk said the superintendent was willing to permit outreach at schools and that the department would roll the program out during the summer to build interest.

The motion to approve the cadet program passed on a recorded vote (ayes recorded in the transcript).