Westhampton Beach junior firefighters to be lauded

A group of young firefighters from Westhampton Beach will be honored Friday by a national organization for its community service work.

Griffin Stevens, 17, and Derek Araujo, 18, members of the Westhampton Beach Fire Department's Juniors program, will accept the National Volunteer Fire Council's Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award in Alexandria, Va.

The Westhampton group of 25 members, ages 12 to 17, was honored for its inspiring fundraisers, including two rock concerts that raised about $1,000 each, benefiting the Wounded Warriors veterans project and Stony Brook University Medical Center's burn unit. They also held puppet shows for elementary school students highlighting fire safety and ran programs for home-schooled children.

The junior firefighters also hold an annual car wash to benefit the burn unit. This year, they also gave about $1,000 to the national Firefighter Cancer Foundation, in honor of their former adviser, John Bachman, who died of cancer last year.

Each Christmas, the members bake more than 700 cookies to bring to widows of firefighters and retired firefighters.

Stevens, the junior captain, said he is impressed with the organization he joined in 2006. "The kids that are involved are awesome . . . They all want to be involved and are so eager to help out in the community."

Araujo, a former captain, agreed. "We all kind of pitch in our own ideas," said Araujo, who thought of doing the rock concert. "It's kind of up to everyone."

Paul Hoyle, who along with Stephen Smith started the junior program at Westhampton in 2004, will accompany the two young members on their trip to Virginia. Smith died last year of cancer.

"I am so proud of these kids," said Hoyle, whom Stevens and Araujo credit with the success of the program. Hoyle estimates the junior program has raised more than $6,800 since its inception in 2004.