PLAINFIELD – Two young men, Nate Woolridge and Roscoe Weeks, have joined the town Fire Department, becoming regular firefighters last month at the ages of 18.
“To have them both come in now as regular firefighters … is a huge plus,” Fire Chief David Alvord said.
Alvord said that Plainfield doesn’t have as many younger members as it used to, and very few choose to get involved in the fire department. Both Woolridge and Weeks, however, chose to participate in the department’s junior firefighter program, which is for young people 14 to 17.
“They’re included wherever we can do stuff with them,” Alvord said.
Alvord said that both Woolridge and Weeks expressed an interest in the Basic 6 training, a highly recommended training for new firefighters, which the chief said is unusual. Because they were underage when it was held in Plainfield this year, Alvord signed waivers for them both to participate.
Woolridge lives on his family’s farm in Plainfield, and he said that it’s not fair for another person to help them out with a fire if he isn’t willing to put in work for his community.
He also described firefighting as a “good way to give back to the community.”
As part of his Basic 6 training, Woolridge got to go into a burn building.
“That was quite fun,” he said.
In addition to becoming a regular firefighter, Woolridge also became an Eagle Scout last month, and his Eagle Scout Service Project involved planting 15 trees around town.
Weeks said that he chose to become a regular firefighter “to help people.”
“I enjoy the training, getting to know all the stuff on the truck and learning to use it properly,” he said.
He also said he enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the Basic 6 training the most.
Weeks is currently working as a union operator at Peckham Industries in Springfield, while Woolridge is working on his parent’s farm and intends on going to college. Both intend on staying Plainfield firefighters.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.