Senator Capito visits WVU Extension’s Junior Fire Camp in Weston

WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) – In its 17th year, WVU Extension’s Junior Fire Camp kicked off this weekend, bringing 140 students from around the world to the West Virginia Fire Academy in Weston with the goal of increasing firefighter participation nationwide.

The Junior Fire Camp is a nationally recognized program for students ages 14 through 17, with only a few held across the country.

During the week, students learn the techniques and requirements to fight fires, including ladders and truck company operations and pumps and fire hoses, along with mass causality incidents and EMS training.

Thirty-nine West Virginia counties were represented at this year’s camp, with the participant traveling furthest from Texas. The record for the most female students was also broken during this week’s camp.

12 News spoke with Mark Lambert, director of WVU Extension’s State Fire Training Academy, about the importance of hosting training camps like this.

“In West Virginia, 92% of the firefighters in the state are volunteers. If you get into a car accident or your house catches fire, chances are volunteer firefighters will show up. They are just as well trained as professional firefighters. They volunteer their time and energy, and the number of volunteer and career firefighters has declined in the US over the past two decades. We want to make sure there is still someone out there who can pull you out of a car wreck or out of a burning house and make them a good member of the community,” Lambert said.

On Monday, Senator Shelley Moore-Capito visited the Junior Fire Camp, where he spoke with students and learned about their training.

In an interview with 12 News, Senator Capito said a firefighter grant bill will soon be passed in the U.S. Senate and such funding will help continue and build programs like this.

“Here’s what I love about this camp: We have workforce issues, we have issues with not enough people volunteering. Every student I asked: ‘Do you like it, are you learning a lot?’ They are so excited to be here. They will take that with them into their adult lives. Many of them are already junior volunteer firefighters. This is the next generation doing the great things we have seen saving and helping our communities,” said Senator Capito.

Junior Fire Camp concludes Thursday with students receiving certificates from the governor’s office and the state fire marshal, as well as some CPR and ambulance cards.

Next year’s camp will be held June 14-19, with registrations opening in early January. You can register for the camp through the WVU Extension website.