Batavia students explore firefighting careers

BATAVIA – It seems that Rocco Loffredi of Batavia has always been intent on a career as a firefighter.

As a freshman at Batavia High School, Loffredi asked members of the Batavia Fire Department why there was no program for students to explore firefighting careers.

Fire officials responded with the creation of the Explorers Program, which gives young men and women aged 14 to 18 active training in all aspects of firefighting.

Loffredi graduated from Batavia High School this spring and is well on the way to his goal.

He works for Ridge Ambulance Service in Montgomery and is about to embark on classes in the fire science technology program at Waubonsee Community College.

Loffredi is one of a dozen young firefighting aspirants participating with the Batavia department’s Explorer Post 5228.

“I think we all have a shared desire to serve the people of our community that has treated us so well,” Loffredi said.

Deputy Fire Chief Craig Hanson called Loffredi “one of the originals.”

The program is operated in conjunction with the Fox Valley Career Center and the Boy Scouts.

Twice a month, the explorers gather at the Eastside Fire Station for training under the leadership of Batavia Firefighter/Paramedic Christina Stock.

The students learn how to advance a hose line, climb ladders, breathe with an air pack and extricate crash victims from vehicles.

The camaraderie among the explorers was apparent when six members of the group appeared before the Batavia City Council recently to report on their trip to the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign.

“It was really an awesome experience,” said Chaz Shaw, who just graduated from Kaneland High School and like Loffredi will be taking classes at WCC. “We learned a lot from some great instructors.”

Jacob Canada, who is about to enter his senior year at BHS, described the teamwork involved.

“You have to make sure you’re accountable and everybody works together,” Canada said.

Also describing their experience for aldermen were BHS students Mathew Baines, Carter Meitzler and Nick Dean.

Other members of the program include Logan Bain, Alex Balentine, Noah Laurich, Andre Martinez, Ethan O’Toole and Francisco Rocha.