(NewsNation) — A group of young firefighters, aged 14 to 17, have stepped up to assist in combating the largest wildfire in Texas history.
Nine young men, part of a junior program at the Hoover Volunteer Fire Department, were called into action Monday as the massive blaze threatened their North Texas community.
Among them are 16-year-old Trey Stark, who has been in the department for two years and has assisted on numerous fires, and 15-year-old Jeritt Ferguson, who is battling his first fire.
“I knew our senior firefighters would get us through it,” Trey said during a Wednesday interview on NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live.”
The Texas A&M Forest Service reported that more than a million acres have been consumed by the fire, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Rhode Island. The inferno has claimed two lives and forced thousands to evacuate their homes.
Responding to the urgent call, the teenage firefighters, equipped with bravery and determination, joined forces with seasoned adult firefighters. Videos captured the sight of the young volunteers riding fire trucks toward the blaze, flames raging in the background.
Assigned various tasks, these junior firefighters bravely ventured onto the front lines. Some wielded hoses to douse the flames, while others worked to contain the fire’s spread. Despite the inherent dangers, the boys were resolute in their commitment to safeguarding their community.
“I was committed … I wanted to get out there the whole time I was there but my captain told me not to,” Jeritt said. “Since it was my first one, I wasn’t really on the front line. I was observing what was going on most the time.”