Hello Chief, this is Mike Sager. I was one of the first explorers starting April 17, 1991 when Doug Stevens started the program. Having the opportunity to go through HFD Explorer program opened my eyes to the career path which changed my life. After joining explorers it opened the doors to become a reserve firefighter for BLM. In the summer of 1991 and was hired as a seasonal firefighter with BLM on the Las Vegas Helitack Crew. I worked three years on Helitack and one year on a Hot Shot crew in Roswell NM. In 1995 I was hired by Boulder City Fire Department as a reserve firefighter until getting hired with North Las Vegas Fire Department in 1998. I worked the next 21 years with NLVFD. I retired in 2019 as an Engineer and now live with my wife and two children in Bayfield CO. Before joining the explorer program I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. After the first meeting I realized that this was the career path I was going to follow. Without Doug Stevens starting the explorer program there is no telling where I would have ended up. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of HFD Explorers. Over the years I have met and worked with several people who have gone down a similar path as I did starting with HFD Explorers. This program has positively influenced countless individuals trying to find their career path and I hope the explorer program continues long into the future.
Thank you,

Being part of the Fire Explorer program was a life changing experience. It taught me discipline, teamwork, and the importance of serving others. Even though I didn’t become a firefighter, the lessons I learned guided me to my career as a police officer a first responder dedicated to protecting and helping the community. The program truly shaped who I am today and set me on the path to making a difference