Can a summer camp fix the firefighter shortage? Durham hopes so
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- At the Durham Fire Department's training center, future firefighters usually learn how to save lives. This week, though, the gear is a little smaller and the recruits a little younger.
Middle-schoolers are suiting up for Junior Fire Marshal Camp, racing to pull on full firefighter gear in under a minute. Twelve-year-old Parker Alexander Hamlet said the competition is fierce.
"I'm really competitive because I do a lot of sports," he said, laughing as he adjusted his helmet.
The campers are learning to handle a 25-pound air pack, crawl through simulated smoke, and push through obstacle courses designed to test their strength and endurance. For some, like 14-year-old Kherington McCallop, the experience is more than just a challenge. It's a glimpse into a possible future.
"I think it's cool that I get to learn the skills firefighters use to save someone's life," she said.
The camp comes at a time when fire departments across the country are struggling to recruit. Volunteer firefighter numbers have dropped 25% since the 1980s, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Camp success story
Durham officials hope programs like this one help reverse that trend. They point to success stories like Abdullah Glover, who attended the camp years ago and is now a full-time Durham firefighter.
"It confirmed it for me," Glover said. "This is what I want to do."
Just last week, high school students took part in Camp Explorer, another piece of the department's Pathways program aimed at introducing young people to fire service careers.
Fire recruiter and camp instructor Tim McCoy says watching kids discover the job never gets old.
"I get to help shape our department's future," he said. "It's the best career in the world."
