Discover what it’s like to be a Wilmington firefighter at the WFD’s Open House on Saturday, February 25, between 10 a.m. and noon

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Chief of Fire John Looney today encouraged young people who may be interested in learning more about becoming a Wilmington firefighter to attend an Open House about the Department’s Fire Explorer Program this Saturday, February 25.  The event, which will be held at the Wilmington Emergency Operations Center, 22 South Heald Street, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, is for young people between the ages of 14 and 20. Participants 18 years of age and younger will need a parent or guardian to register. 

The WFD Fire Explorer Program, for young men and women aged 14-20 who are in good physical health, is a FREE program with a minimum two-year commitment. Explorers will meet two Saturdays a month for training conducted by Wilmington firefighters, where they will learn first-aid skills, receive real-world training at the Delaware State Fire School, participate in community service events throughout the year, and gain valuable life and leadership experience. Uniforms are provided by the Wilmington Fire Department. 

“This is an exciting opportunity offered by the Wilmington Fire Department for young men and women from the City and surrounding areas to become a member of our Explorer Post,” said Chief Looney. “One of our primary missions is to educate and empower young people by developing their interest in the fire and emergency medical service career field. Our Explorer Program is a structured program that will introduce our explorers to the Fire and EMS service through classroom instruction as well as hands-on-training.” 

“I hope that young people in our City will once take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about what it means to be a firefighter,” said Mayor Purzycki. “This is a noble profession that provides a vital service to our City. While far from being easy, this is an extremely rewarding form of public service in addition to being challenging and, at time, risky. This is an excellent chance for young people who are considering a career as a first responder to get a valuable leg up.” 

For more information about Saturday’s Open House, please contact Battalion Chief Robert Pryor at (302) 576-3950 or Robert.Pryor@cj.state.de.us.  

COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INQUIRIES: 

John Rago
Deputy Chief of Staff
City of Wilmington, Office of the Mayor
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov