Kids Build Character and Skills at Fire Camp

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Station 21 in Citrus Heights was base camp for kids with ages ranging from 11-13 attending the 2022 Fire Camp from July 12-15. From Tuesday to Friday, kids experienced the four-day week as firefighters, becoming for a few days part of the Sac Metro Fire District family.

Fire Camp kicked off Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. with an introduction and a tour of Fire Station 21 located at 7641 Greenback Ln. Since the event was canceled during the COVID-19 shuttering, Metro Fire decided that the returning theme for the week was ‘having fun’.

According to Chris Dargan, Fire District Community Relations Coordinator, “[Participants] spend the week working as teams while playing games, learning life skills, experiencing a small part of what being a firefighter is like and helping fight a fire in a controlled environment using training props.”

“Campers build a sense of teamwork and responsibility,” Dargan said, “[and] are organized into ‘strike teams’ of eight campers each"'mentored by two firefighters.”

Team spirit was fostered by creating team names, team flags and getting official t-shirts and hats for the occasion.

During the week, the 48 participants composing the ‘strike teams’ were taught at multiple stations about the variety of tasks regularly performed by Sac Metro Fire.

Such skills and tasks included: Learning hands-only CPR; Safely using a fire extinguisher; Putting out flammable liquid fires; Forming a bucket brigade; Training for a hose lay; Auto extricating from a car crash demo; Throwing shore-based water rescue bags; Playing water hockey; Climbing a 100-foot ladder; and interacting in a Q&A with a 9-1-1 Dispatcher.

Campers had a blast with an instructive fun-filled four-day itinerary. Day One and Day Two were held at Station 21 in Citrus Heights; Day Three at the Roseville Fire Department training grounds; Day Four morning at Sunsplash in Roseville; Then, an afternoon picnic with family at La Sierra Community Center in Carmichael.

“The week culminated with a family day where campers invited their family to a picnic day where the kids can show off the skills they have learned throughout the week and introduce families to their fellow team members,” Dargan added.

If you are interested in these Sac Metro Fire events, please contact the Fire Camp at [email protected].