2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

Published July 16, 2024
By Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico
17th Training Wing Public Affairs

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

The Goodfellow Fire Department hosted 12 local youth ages 10-12 for the 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp, July 8-12, 2024.

Junior Firefighter Camp is a five-day program, teaching students the importance of fire safety and teamwork with fun learning activities.

On the first day of the camp, students attended an orientation on what the camp would consist of and the importance of firefighting. They received their first lesson about the importance of first aid and how to apply it in an emergency. They then moved on to exit drills in the home, where the students were given a diagram to draw a plan of how to safely exit their homes in the case of a fire.

2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

Calvin, junior firefighter, ascends a ladder during the ladder operations activity during the second day of the 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp at the Goodfellow Fire Department, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, July 9, 2024. Each of the 12 students had the opportunity to climb up and down the ladder to practice proper climbing techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

“The whole goal is to bring young kids in for a week and show them a little bit of what we do on the fire ground and things we do around the firehouse,” said Justin Nava, Goodfellow Fire Department firefighter emergency medical technician.

On Day two, students were issued their personal protective equipment; they then learned how to use rescue tools, complete bunker drills and ascend and descend ladders.

2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

U.S. Air Force Maj. Levi Beard, 17th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, and Kevin Cotton, Goodfellow Fire Department fire chief, present Elijah, 11, with his graduation certificate during the 2024 Junior Firefighter camp at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, July 12, 2024. After a week of different interactive lessons, the students earned the title of junior firefighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

Day three focused on teaching students how to tie ropes and knots used by firefighters daily to secure equipment, perform tasks safely and efficiently and create rigging for rescues.

Day four included fire hose exercises, search and rescue drills and truck rides. Students practiced properly holding and dragging a fire hose, using its pressure to knock over a basketball and cone, then participated in a building search and rescue activity.

“Seeing them do the hose advancements and the search and rescue in the smoked-up facility is what I enjoyed,” said Chief Bill Provencal, Goodfellow Fire Department A-shift station chief. “The students finding their way through the dark and getting the victim out of the building was my favorite exercise of this week.”

2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

Emmie, 12, draws her exit drills in the house plan during the first day of 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp at the Goodfellow Fire Department, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, July 8, 2024. The GFD hosted 12 local youth for the 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp, July 8-12, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

Finally, on day five, the students toured the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, gaining hands-on experience with the various training components conducted there, followed by a graduation ceremony for the junior firefighters.

2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

Lt. Gavin Maltias, Goodfellow Fire Department B-Shift firefighter, demonstrates use of the Jaws of Life to students during the second day of the 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp at the Goodfellow Fire Department, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, July 9, 2024. The rescue tool demonstration was a challenge where students picked up and carried an open bottle of water without spilling the water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

Romeo, 12, sits in the back of a fire truck during the fourth day of the 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp at the Goodfellow Fire Department, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, July 11, 2024. Students participated in a building search and rescue activity after the firetruck ride. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

2024 Goodfellow Junior Firefighter Camp

Junior firefighter students tour a firetruck during the fifth day of the 2024 Junior Firefighter Camp at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, July 12, 2024. Students participated in a tour of various training components conducted there, followed by a graduation ceremony for the junior firefighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)