Since the beginning of this school year the Montesano Fire Department has been running a fire cadet program in cooperation with the Montesano Junior/Senior High School. The program is in its first year and is open to high school juniors and seniors. Classroom work is held during the course of the week while participating students benefit from hands-on training in an all-day session one Saturday per month. Currently 19 students are enrolled in the class. Fire Chief Corey Rux explained the program is modeled after a basic fire fighting academy and aims to serve as a stepping stone for those interested in either volunteer or career fire fighting.