If Chandler Lambe and Meridyth French could pick and choose what tasks they might be called on to perform as firefighters, they would sign up tomorrow, but now that they have completed the Meaford Junior Firefighters Day Camp (August 14-18) and have a better understanding of all that firefighters are expected to do, they might reconsider.
“Yes, there were a few surprises this week,” Chandler said. “I thought firefighters just ran up stairs to a fire. I didn’t know they sometimes have to go backwards into a burning building, and sometimes they have to crawl up stairs.”
Meridyth too was surprised, despite being the daughter of Mike French, a member of the Meaford and District Fire Department. Like Chandler, Meredith sees herself working a fire hose or driving a fire truck, but not packing on an air tank and crawling up stairs. “Not just yet, she said. “I am too small to wear an air tank.”
Meaford’s Junior Firefighter Camp was designed to introduce children ages 5-12 years to fire prevention and safety, the team approach to fighting fires, and the collaboration among trained Emergency Responders. The week-long camp included safety discussions, demonstrations, first aid instruction, a tour of the Meaford Fire Hall and all its equipment, and free-time activities. The children met with members of the the 4th Canadian Division Firefighting Department and Canadian Armed Forces personnel at the fire station, Grey County Paramedics, and toured the Canadian Coast Guard station at the Meaford harbour.
The five-day camp concluded with an award ceremony on Friday, August 18.
