BEING a rural firefighter runs in the family for Steph Collins.

Her father and her grandfather have all been members of the CFA’s Yarrambat branch, which Steph said was like a “second home”.

“I’ve been hanging around the fire station all my life,” Steph said.

Steph started out at the Yarrambat CFA as a junior volunteer and has climbed the ranks to become a senior member.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the CFA’s junior development program and the CFA is calling on 11-15 year olds to get involved.

“It was a bunch of fun,” Steph said.

“There’s a lot of competition work and torchlight parades where we march down the street with gasoline torches to show the public we’re there.”

As well as learning the skills of firefighting, Steph said juniors also went on camps together, fundraised and even helped out during the Black Saturday fires.

“We washed the trucks and things like that,” Steph said.

Moving from the junior brigade to becoming a senior member of the CFA could be challenging, she said.

“There’s a huge responsibility, not just for us but for those around us,” she said.

But Steph said being involved in the CFA had also its benefits.

“You learn self-confidence, how to become a leader and it’s a great way to meet new people,” she said.

Yarrambat CFA is looking for more volunteers like Steph to join their junior program.

To get involved, contact 1800 232 636.