Camp teaches children fire safety

Learning not to burn.

That was the lesson of the day for more than 60 area youngsters who participated in the Junior Rookie Fire Camp hosted by the Opelika Fire Department Tuesday.

The camp is part of the “A Day in the Life of” series that showcases the jobs of community service employees and is coordinated by the Opelika Parks and Recreation Department.

Tuesday marked the 10th year for the camp, OFD Capt. Scott McBurney said.

“What we want to do is let the children experience what it’s like to be a firefighter,” McBurney said.

That’s exactly what the 63 participants, ages 6- to 11-years-old, got to do. They took part in activities at the OFD Training Facility that taught them about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters, how to properly use a fire extinguisher on a live fire, and how to exit a smoke-filled space.

The children also got a chance to ride a 1967 Pirsch fire truck and were treated to refreshments and lunch provided by several area businesses.

About 20 OFD firefighters were on hand assisting.

At the end of the camp, participants got to slide down a 25-foot hill lined with a slide that the OFD continuously soaked with water via a pumper truck.

“The camp is put on in a way that these kids have a lot of fun, but at the end of the day, they’ve learned something,” said Assistant Chief James Morgan.