LEARNING THE ROPES
Azalee Lambert, 13, pauses for an impromptu interview with CityNews videographer Audra Brown while on her way down the side of the Burlington Fire Department’s headquarters on Wednesday afternoon. Lambert is one of a dozen young teens involved in a weeklong firefighting boot camp. Believed to be the first of its kind in the province, the camp exposes kids from the Hamilton-Burlington Big Brothers Big Sisters Association to rope rescues, car rescues and firefighting.
The Burlington Fire Department is hosting its first ever Camp Ignite this week in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Hamilton and Burlington at Station One on Fairview Street.
The weeklong camp allows participants to experience a scaled-back version of firefighter recruit training. They will be learning about basic first-aid and myriad other skills firefighters use throughout their careers.
“We’re looking to engage them in ways they have maybe not been engaged in the past. We’re looking to leverage the trust, respect and the discipline that the fire service is known for in the hope that it will shape them up to become positive young adults. And maybe they will aspire to follow in our footsteps,” said Fire Chief David Lazenby.
Campers participated in a simulated search and rescue in a smoke-filled building. They also had a chance to break windshields and cut up cars as they learned about vehicle extrication.
The week will wrap up with a graduation ceremony for these inaugural campers on Friday afternoon.