The effort has been under way to obtain participants in the Rural Fire Department Explorer Post 343 Program. Geary County Commissioners received a briefing this week that indicated the numbers for this year are up.

Commissioner Keith Ascher explained the program will continue, referring to Assistant Rural Fire Chief Curt Janke, “He’s been visiting Junction City High School, Chapman High School and Wakefield High School trying to get signed up for Fire Explorers Program. At this point he’s got probably 15 to 20 compared to maybe five last year.”

Youth must 14 to participate in the program. They are taught what they would need to become a volunteer or fulltime firefighter.