Manlius Fire Department holds junior day camp

TOWN OF MANLIUS – The Manlius Fire Department held its 11th annual junior fire academy July 18 to 22.
Open only to kids about to enter grades five through eight in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District, this year’s summer camp altogether saw 60 participants morning to afternoon Monday through Friday.
The class of kids—roughly half of them first-timers in the program—were provided uniforms and the chance to experience a glimpse into what it’s like to be a first responder.
At the start of the five days, particpants are given tours of the station, and the ones who have gone through the youth academy before are required to take an examination. Depending on their tallied test results, those kids are chosen as either company leaders, safety officers or EMS members for split-up groups of 10 to mimic actual fire companies.
With oversight from returning red-shirted instructors who have graduated from the program, the appointed youth officers are instilled with leadership duties to match.
During the week, the condensed, hands-on fire department overview includes ladder climbing, spinal mobilization, first aid, and fire extinguisher tutorials as well as lessons on how to attach to a fire hydrant, how to forcibly enter a burning building and how to bandage and splint fractures.
Featuring classroom sessions and demonstrations from local and state firefighters, the program also teaches its entrants marching formation, the history of the fire service, tips for fire prevention and techniques for both vehicle extrication and the rescue of an infant-sized mannequin through a two-story window.
Along the way, the kids took a break to walk down the road to Gabrielle Chocolates & Ice Cream for some treats, and the partnering Fayetteville Fire Department brought in its BullEx fire safety education trailer to have its visiting volunteers talk about escape plans in the event of a house fire.
On the last day, the Manlius department supervised a bucket brigade competition, an obstacle course challenge, and a contest for the campers that found opposing teams spraying a push ball to the end of a wire.
“It’s touching the outer limits of what a firefighter would actually learn,” said Lt. Chris Halliday. “It’s been a big success not only for our community, but it’s been a big benefit for us in recruiting and gaining interest in the fire service.”
Over the years, the department has seen its junior fire camp and its Explorer program for teenagers plant the seeds for a number of participants, who in some cases have gone on to either enter the medical field or become full-fledged volunteers with the department.
In other instances, the lessons they learn often come in handy in their day-to-day lives, Halliday said.
At the end of the week-long camp, a half-hour video summary is posted to YouTube.
“The kids’ eyes are as wide as saucers starting out, but by the fifth day, that wide-eyed look is gone and they mature into confident junior firefighters,” said Marc Stogran, who has held multiple roles with the department but goes by the title of videographer the week of the day camp. “Even if they don’t follow into a first responder career, they learn stuff that is now with them for life.”
On Saturday morning, an awards ceremony for the junior academy took place in front of families in the Eagle Hill Middle School auditorium, where the campers were bestowed with honorary future titles.