NORWICH – In the effort to spark young people’s interest in becoming a firefighter, the Chenango County Fire Bureau put on its first-ever Fire Camp at the firefighter training grounds in Norwich on Saturday for kids across the county.
The free event, helped by a number of volunteers from fire departments throughout Chenango County, provided kids ages 12-14 the experience of being a “firefighter for a day” through hands-on experiences such as search and rescue techniques, ropes and rappelling, fire extinguisher training, hose line advancement, and fire ground tactics.
Said Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith, “We are teaching them fire safety, but we’re also trying to get these kids interested at a young age so that when they get to be that age when they can volunteer, they will also be interested in joining their respective fire service program.”
Beckwith added his hopes that the eleven children who participated will return to school in September and spread the word on Fire Camp, which is already planned to be an overnight event at the Norwich Fire Department when held again next summer.
“This was all about giving them a positive experience,” he said. “We want to open their eyes to what it means to be a firefighter at a young age and make a good impression on them.”
For camp goers like Colton Morley and Aidan Nolan, whose parents are volunteer firefighters in the community, Saturday’s event was a fun experience and also a chance to learn the skills and character needed to suit up with fire gear.
“I’m not old enough to be a fire volunteer yet, but I already help out where I can,” said Morley, adding his intention of one day joining the department.
“The kids really became aware of what the job takes,” said Ryan Palmiter, a three-year volunteer firefighter from Sherburne who served as a camp counselor Saturday.
What’s more, Palmiter stressed the decline in community volunteers in recent years, one he said poses a threat to many local departments - a threat current volunteers hope to extinguish with events like Fire Camp.
“If we don’t have the numbers, then the fire departments suffer,” said Palmiter. “I think having things like this, where kids can have fun, will help increase the numbers in the future.”
According to a 2010 needs assessment conducted by the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 67 percent of US fire departments are all-volunteer. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) reports the number of volunteers New York State alone has dropped by approximately 10,000 over the last decade.
There are 21 departments in Chenango County with the Norwich Fire Department being the only one with paid staff. The remaining departments are entirely volunteer-based and typically rely on mutual aid from surrounding fire districts for fire equipment and manpower in emergency situations.
The goal of FASNY is to recruit 15,000 new firefighters in New York by the year 2015.
Just one satisfying experience like Fire Camp could go a long way in recruiting, said Beckwith. “We are looking at Fire Camp as a recruitment idea to find some of the younger kids in the area so they know what to expect. We want them to understand the skills and training of the firefighters and that it’s not just about hanging out at the firehouse.”