Building a Strong Foundation: Creating a Successful Junior Firefighter Program

Jerry Presta is the Chairman of the Nassau County (NY) Junior Firefighters Association, an organization made up of over 40 different junior firefighter/explorer organizations from across western Long Island. He has served as the East Norwich (NY) Volunteer Fire Company program advisor since 1999, after his daughter expressed an interest in becoming a junior firefighter. He has served on the National Volunteer Fire Council's National Junior Firefighter Program Advisory Group, taught at national conferences, and written articles on junior firefighter programs. Presta received the Youth Mentor of the Year Award from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in 2019 for his service.