Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY CHERYL SHUMWAYNorth Country This WeekWEST POTSDAM —Teenagers broke window glass and removed doors to extricate potential motor vehicle accident victims Saturday as part of a day-long training for junior firefighters during the sixth annual Youth in the Fire Service Day.
Over a dozen Junior Firefighters and Restricted Access Members ages 14-18 also learned about advancing line to targets and traffic incident management systems, watched laser/drone demonstrations, and participated in map compass orienteering and played waterball.
“We are trying to bring in new blood. Most of the current firefighters are seasoned,” said Karin Blackburn, chair of the Youth in the Fire Service Day.
“The event gives hands-on training and activities designed to build skills and encourage continued interest in firefighting,” she said.
The teenagers came from throughout St. Lawrence County, from as far away as Morristown to Star Lake.
“Every department in St. Lawrence County needs more volunteers,” said Blackburn,
“The state has several requirements for all fire departments including mandatory compliance training. Fire departments are also needing to do more fundraising due to increased costs of apparatus and gear. A lot of volunteers sign up to do firefighting, fundraising,” she said.
“It’s a big time commitment for both the volunteer firefighters and the volunteer rescue squad members, when they already have other jobs,” said Blackburn.
On Saturday, Erik Johnson, of the Canton Fire Department, gave the extrication training. Participants practiced stabilizing a vehicle, breaking window glass and removing doors to learn how to rescue victims inside.
Many of the junior firefighters said they joined to help others in their community. Several had parents and grandparents already in the fire service.
Carson Legault, 17, in his fifth year and captain of the Morristown Junior Firefighters, had a more personal reason to become a firefighter.
“I was involved in a fire at age 4. The fire burned 35% of my body. My dad, Craig Legault, saved me in the fire. My dad was burned worse than I was, but we both survived the fire,” said Carson, who was in the Syracuse ICU for six weeks.
Carson also gave credit to Jay Moore, Gouverneur Hospital Nurse Manager and current Morristown Fire Department Chief. Moore took care of Carson, and even went with him to the Syracuse Hospital.
LilyAnne Rice, of Star Lake, the only female participant, and a second year youth firefighter said, “I wanted to help people out, and the more training the better I’ll be.”
Volunteer fire department youth participants included: Cayden Aldrich (Brier Hill); Alexander Buckley, Mason Hilton (both with Richville); Landen Downs (Morristown); Rex Campbell, Lucas Corry, Braydon McWharf, LilyAnne Rice, Benjamin Thompson (all with Star Lake/Clifton Fine); and James Fisher, Kayden Merrick, Coltin Miller, Christian Scott (all with Madrid).
The event was hosted by the St. Lawrence County Fire Chiefs Association, Northern New York Volunteer Firefighters Association, and the Firefighters Association of the State of New York at the fire training center in West Potsdam, as part of a state-wide recruitment effort.
