The fire company's Junior Brigade is open to anyone between the ages of 14 and 17 who has an interest in learning to be a firefighter or just helping out the fire company. Most of our Juniors go on to become Senior members when they turn 18, and the training they receive as Juniors is excellent preparation for becoming a firefighter. As with our Senior members, there's no obligation for Juniors to become firefighters. Some of our Juniors help with fund-raising events but not firefighting.

As much as the company helps the Junior members learn and grow, the Juniors help our company in many valuable ways. Juniors are allowed to participate in all fire company activities which do not involve life-threatening hazards, including assisting at emergency scenes, attending parades and Company social functions, and even "outside" firefighting-related classes, for which they receive the same State and National training certificates as our Senior members. They receive the same training as our Senior members. Juniors are issued a set of protective turnout gear, and a pager when possible. Juniors are restricted to responding to calls only during certain hours (as governed by child labor laws), and never during school, but their service to the community during their free time is invaluable!

We value our Junior members highly. They are the future of our company! If you, or someone you know, might be interested in becoming a Junior firefighter, please stop by our station on any Wednesday night about 6:00 PM and one of our members will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

If you're interested in applying for Junior membership, please click here for a Junior Brigade membership application. Click on the "print" button to print out the application, then fill in the requested information and get the application signed by a parent or legal guardian. Then you can mail it to the fire company at 223 Playrgound Drive, West Reading, PA 19611, or drop it off in person on a Wednesday night. Please include working papers (required by Child Labor Law) and $5.00 with your application (if check or money order please make payable to West Reading Fire Company) to cover the processing of your application and your first year's membership dues.

You will also need a copy of the Junior Brigade Governing Rules. Click here to get a copy. Just like above, click on the link to display the document, then just print it out.

When your completed application is received, it will be brought up for investigation at the next monthly business meeting of the fire company (held the second Monday of each month). Then, at the following monthly meeting, your application will be voted upon by the membership. We hope to see you soon!