By MADDY VITALE
Dousing a fire, entering a smoke house, climbing a ladder, and wearing firefighter gear made for an exciting, thrilling and educational Ocean City Jr. Firefighter Camp.
The four-day camp ran from July 19 through the 22. After having to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the Fire Department, under Fire Chief Jim Smith, offered the popular program once again.
Campers had a blast shadowing the firefighters, while learning many firefighting and life-saving skills, including rappelling, ladder climbing, using a fire hose and CPR.
Smith could not be reached for comment Monday, but said this after a prior firefighter camp, “It is great for the kids. It gives them a taste of firefighting. Really, they get to see a day in the life of a firefighter. We might spark some interest from the kids in firefighting.”
There were 30 campers in the four-day summer camp, according to the Ocean City Firefighters Association Facebook page.
Throughout the week, campers learned how to perform basic First Aid, use extrication tools and search through a fire scene to find possible “victims.”
In addition, the kids got to take rides on fire apparatus, held hoses as water gushed out and climbed aerial ladders.
Some of the young “firefighters” even got to rappel.
The Ocean City firefighters’ camp began in 2010. Since then, it is “one of the most successful summer camp programs in Ocean City,” according to the OCFD website, oceancityfirefighters.com.
Each year, the camp is held in July where the “cadets,” as the campers are called, report daily from 9 a.m. to noon each day for four days.
At the end of the fire academy camp, there is a graduation ceremony complete with a pizza party for not only the campers, but their families.
Children ages 9-12 are put through the paces of the fire academy, simulating the life of an actual recruit.
Cadets receive uniforms, which consist of a T-shirt, baseball cap, rope belt for knot-tying skills, a water bottle and a cinch-bag.
Recruits are expected to wear their uniforms each day.
The moment the academy begins, it is hands-on training for the young participants.
The morning starts with physical training and then moves on to learning about firefighting and EMS work.
But everything is not just about the OCFD. Ocean City Police Department is also highlighted during the camp.
Kids learn about and meet members of the Police and Communications Departments and learn about the entire chain of emergency services the city provides.
