Camp Spark Engages Local Youth in Emergency Response Training

Nearly 60 young participants gathered at the Baltimore City Fire Academy on Pulaski Highway this past weekend for Camp Spark, a program designed to introduce local youth to firefighting and emergency response skills.

Since its inception in 2018, Camp Spark has offered a two-day immersive experience that combines hands-on training, mentorship, and teamwork activities for students aged 12 to 16. Attendees learned essential skills such as using a fire extinguisher, performing CPR, and other vital safety techniques.

In addition to practical training, participants had the opportunity to observe firefighters in action as they extinguished a car fire, providing a real-world context to the skills being taught.

Mya McConnell, Deputy Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, emphasized the importance of the program in fostering confidence and leadership among young women. “Giving them an opportunity to come out, to put their hands on equipment, to use it, to realize it's something they can do,” McConnell stated, highlighting the potential for participants to pursue careers as firefighters, paramedics, or EMTs in the future.

While the camp primarily targets girls to encourage their involvement in firefighting, boys were also welcome to join the training sessions, promoting inclusivity in emergency response education.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).