Fire & Rescue helps children learn firefighting skills
- Sofia M
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
By Sofia Montoya-Deck
Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 18, 2025
Eight-year-old Isabella Meister is still deciding on her career path. “If I could have two jobs, I would be a singer and a firefighter,” she said.
On Wednesday, Meister got a sneak peak into the latter career choice at the second annual Junior Firefighter Academy sponsored by the Frederick County Division of Fire & Rescue Services.
In partnership with Frederick County Parks & Recreation, Fire & Rescue welcomed 131 participants to the Public Safety Training Facility, south of Frederick.
“We bring in kids and run them through a bunch of different activity stations that are modified versions of what some of our recruits go through in our actual fire academy,” Fire & Rescue Community Outreach Coordinator Calli Guercio said.
“This event is great for any child, whether they have a fascination and a love for the fire service or public safety, or whether it’s that they need to get some basic knowledge about the fire department and what it is they do,” Sarah Campbell, the public information officer for Fire & Rescue, said.
Participants ages 6 to 11 got to experience a day in the life of a firefighter by rotating through eight stations that included activities such as spraying a fire hose, climbing through an obstacle course, practicing 911 calls and trying on firefighter gear.
“I felt kind of nervous and it was really hot,” Emma Knight, 8, said of trying on the gear.
Knight’s dad and uncle are both firefighters. “I like how they protect the people and keep them safe and get them out of the fire as fast as they can,” she said.
Six-year-old Hadley Campbell was most looking forward to the maze activity, but also enjoyed learning to hold and spray the fire hose. “It was heavy,” she said.
At another station, participants competed in a first aid equipment matching game.
Kids in two teams took turns running to their team’s board and picking up one of many overturned images. After running back to their line, they turned the image around. If it was an item found in a f irst aid kit, they could check it off their team’s list.
“We learned all the stuff they use and what they have in their bag when they come with it,” Isabella said.
Kevin Schmidt, a technician who led the station, said, “I think the kids like the overall event in general. Most kids grow up wanting to be a firefighter at some point in their life and today is a good day to live that dream for a few hours.”
Another station, hosted by 911 dispatchers, taught participants how to handle 911 calls.
“It’s really important in case they actually need to use it,” LeighAnn Osuch, an assistant administrator of quality assurance, said. “A lot of kids don’t know how to call 911, so it’s really important that they know the important things that we ask when they call.”
After a 15-minute lesson that included using a phone that simulates a 911 call, the children learned about when 911 should actually be contacted.
“I learned why you call 911 and how you do it if you need help,” Isabella said. “I also learned that you can actually text 911 if you can’t talk.”
The Junior Firefighter Academy first began last year in an effort to build upon existing outreach, such as visiting schools, by bringing more people into Fire & Rescue facilities.
“It’s really important, not only for the fire and life safety aspect of it, but it’s incredibly important to get to know your local fire department,” Guercio said. “We want the community to know us outside of a 911 emergency.”
“We think it’s also a really great opportunity to foster that interest in a career, even if it’s at a really young age,” she said.
At the end of the day, participants celebrated at a graduation ceremony, where they discussed what they accomplished throughout the training and were congratulated with a firefighter challenge coin.
“We keep getting asked if we’ll do it for younger kids or older kids, so I think we have some things in mind for future years,” Campbell said. “It’s definitely something that we plan to continue doing. The kids love it and the firefighters here love doing it.”
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