Montesano High School may soon have a number of fire cadets walking the halls.

The Montesano Fire Department has partnered with the high school to offer a fire cadet program set to begin at the start of the next school year.

“It’s an idea I had back in 2015. We started talks with the school but couldn’t get it all together in time for this school year,” Montesano Fire Chief Corey Rux said.

The fire department hopes the program will provide students with the opportunity to learn about a variety of fire department-based skills while in a vocational setting.

“We’re looking to develop future leaders in the fire service,” Rux said.

However, vocational skills are not the only ones to be addressed by the program.

“The goal is to build not only fundamental fire-fighting skills, buts also to provide necessary life lessons in teamwork, discipline, attitude and respect,” Rux explained. “All those things that will carry them through life regardless of what vocation they go into.”

The program will be targeted toward juniors and seniors, or ages 16 to 18, with class size not exceeding 15. Chief Rux will act as the primary instructor, and says classes will be held daily for the duration of a single period.

Speaking to the smaller class size, Rux noted that in its first year it will be important to keep the program manageable.

“It is a pilot program. We want to make sure we have a good instructor-to-student ratio,” Rux said.

It is estimated that the program’s total cost to the fire department will be $15,240, which will be offset by a contract amount of $15,000 provided by the Montesano School District. That amount is to accommodate the fire department for instructor time and the replacement and maintenance of equipment.

Having spoken to juniors and sophomores (next year’s seniors and juniors) on Feb. 24, Rux is optimistic about the program’s future.

“I think it was very successful, there seems to be considerable interest,” Rux said.

Rux hopes that the program will help students to jump start their careers, no matter what those careers may be, with what they learn in the program.

Montesano City Council approved the contract at its most recent meeting. The contract will now go before the Montesano School Board for consideration.