Tifton Fire Dept. Junior Fire Camp
TIFTON, Ga. – The Tifton Fire Department has been hard at work this week with a program they’re running for the first time. One that they’re using to potentially get the next generation of first responders ready for anything.
We caught up with Tifton Fire Chief, Bobby Bennett during a break in the program Thursday afternoon about hosting a Junior Fire Camp…
And… how the idea came to be.
“I was looking on Facebook, Perry Fire Department has a camp that they do every year. So, I reached out to them and Chief (Kirk) Crumpton was more than gracious to share the information with us that they were doing to make it successful. And, that’s what we want to do: we want to be successful,” said Chief Bobby Bennett, City of Tifton Fire Dept.
Throughout the week, Tifton firefighters have been teaching these teens the ins and outs.
Assistant Fire Chief, Lieutenant Kiefer Daughtry tells us, they’ve been looking to inspire those who may be interested in becoming first responders.
“The goal of the fire academy was to capture the next generation of firefighters. I feel like we’ve done a good job in our local school system. We’re starting to get the ball rolling, where we were able to actually get some kids in here on what they call ‘work-based learning’ and actually train some kids up. So, this is going a step further than that…” said Lieutenant Kiefer Daughtry, Assistant Fire Chief, City of Tifton Fire Dept.
Getting teens interested in a career in first response is certainly never a bad thing…
As there’s always a need for new faces in any department.
“…Police, Fire, EMS are struggling to keep people working for them. So, being able to be proactive instead of trying to find somebody to work now; go ahead and start that interest and peak that interest for that future,” said Lt. Daughtry.
Chief Bennett says he’s already looking at how to expand the Junior Fire Camp for next year by working with Tifton first responders.
“…We’re looking at possibly some EMTs things in the future. So, this way if they’re 18 years old, you’ve got to be 18 to get state certified in fire-fighting or EMT. Once they graduate, then they’re ready to go find a job,” said Chief Bennett.
Chief Bennett says the turnout was really good for the first time they’ve done a Junior Fire Camp. And, he’s excited at the groundwork they’ve laid out for future years.
The fire department was also able to put on the camp with the Tift County School System’s work-based learning program.
Brian Roche reporting.
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