It’s one of the classic dream jobs for many teens — but for 15-year-old Jahkari Tucker, the Bermuda Fire Service is serious work.Asked what drew him to seek a future in emergency services, Jahkari told The Royal Gazette: “Helping people. Just seeing firefighters work makes me feel good — knowing I could be doing that.”In a way, he already does: every Tuesday and Thursday, Jahkari joins the crew on duty for that day.Over the last decade or so, the Fire Service has made a point of taking on young people, for what is informally known as the work experience programme.The Service maintains a rapport with schools, explained Division Officer Dana Lovell, introducing part-time youth workers to the firefighter’s life.Five months ago, when Jahkari was put forward by the Impact Mentoring Academy, he was struggling to choose between a career in the military or medical care.Now he hopes to joint the Fire Service and train as a paramedic, like the Firefighter-EMTs who comprise more than 90 percent of the Island’s 80-strong force.Jobs range from tackling floods to helping out at the scenes of road crashes.Said Lt Lovell: “Jahkari’s working in a real firefighting outfit, without actually being in direct contact with fire. You couldn’t get a closer firsthand look.”The work fan be onerous: cleaning and testing equipment, making sure all the lights and other devices are in good order before a truck is sent out on a job.Other days with the firefighters are as real as it gets: attending the scene of a fatality or serious injury on the road.“When I first stared doing it, my adrenalin would kick in and my hands would start shaking,” the Spanish Point teen recalled. “Now, knowing a person needs help, when a firefighter asks me to get something, I just get it.“We get calls to go out, I go with the guys to help with whatever they need.”Under the programme, young rookie start out in “an observer role alongside the firefighters, seeing what they do regularly”, Lt Lovell said.Firefighters nowadays are co-responders, along with medical personnel, to accidents — Jahkari recently got trained in CPR.Not bad for someone who’s only turning 16 next month.Lt Lovell said: “Jahkari has been a delight to work with, and we’re discussing keeping him a little longer.“For any young person interested in the Fire Service as a career path, this programme can be a similar help.”Useful website: www.gov.bm.