NEWS

Eagle Mount campers learn fire safety

Jenn Rowell
jrowell@greatfallstribune.com

Campers with Eagle Mount Great Falls summer programs got a chance Tuesday to learn what it's like to be a firefighter.

The eight-week Camp GREAT focuses on different themes each week and this week's theme is "To the Rescue."

On Tuesday, about 20 campers spent the day at the Great Falls Fire Training Center. They started with a classroom session, learning about summer safety, how to call 911, what do to in a fire and other safety tips.

On Monday, they were with the Great Falls Police Department's K-9 unit.

For fireworks this weekend, Capt. Dave Van Son told campers to have adult supervision and water nearby if they light fireworks.

"Can you do that for me? Promise?" he asked.

"Yeah!" campers promised.

Firefighter Mike Loy let them check out his gear and then time him as he pulled on boot, pants, jacket and helmet, then again as he pulled on his oxygen tank with the mask.

Dave Van Son told the campers that if a firefighters comes into their house in that gear, it's the same firefighter they saw in his blue uniform and not to be scared but to follow instructions.

Campers range in age from 6 years old and up, and all have a doctor-diagnosed disability, said Jill Van Son, camp coordinator.

After learning about gear, they watched firefighters do a scenario rescuing someone from a burning house, using water hoses and proper entrance technique. As some firefighters connected the hose to the fire hydrant and the fire engine, others explained to campers what was happening.

Inside the structure, a machine made smoke and firefighters pulled a dummy out of the building, carrying it to medics from Great Falls Emergency Services.

Mercy Flight was scheduled to pick up the dummy to show that part of the process to campers, but they were called to a real emergency in Shelby.

Campers were able to walk through the smoke house, climb inside the ambulance and learn about the fire engines after the demonstration.

Nick Moore, 19, said his favorite part was "watching that drill that they did with the smoke, saving that person. That was awesome."

For Great Falls Fire/Rescue, the scenario would count toward some of their regular training, Dave Van Son said.

"The thing that's awesome about this is we get to expose what we do to these kids with special needs," he said. "It lets them experience a day in the life of a firefighter. They need to know how to call 911, what we look like and not to be afraid of us if we show up at their door."

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•To learn more about Eagle Mount programs, go to eaglemount.net