Young firefighters pass with flying colours!

The teens attended a formal graduation ceremony at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Birkenshaw after taking part in a number of drills and exercises in front of family, friends, teachers and fire officers.

The scenarios saw them rescuing casualties from simulated building fires and a car fire.

The Young Firefighters from Castleford Academy, Kettlethorpe High School, Crofton Academy, The Kings School in Pontefract and Wakefield City Academy, have completed a Level Two BTEC in The Fire and Rescue Service in the Community.

Amanda May, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Youth Trainer, said: “The young people who have completed this qualification should be extremely proud of themselves. They have proved to be extremely hard-working, committed and skilful and I’m sure these qualities will be extremely useful in the future.”

The Young Firefighters scheme was originally conceived in Wakefield in order to engage with young people in a more practical way to help them build a more positive attitude towards the fire and rescue service.

The success of the scheme has resulted in it expanding across West Yorkshire.

It is aimed at young people in formal education aged 14 to 16 who are identified as potentially benefiting from a practical element to their learning which takes place outside the traditional school environment.