Camp blaze?

[WannabeintheFD]

Has anyone ever heard of a place called Camp blaze ? i saw something on in from good morning america and i was wondering if anyone had info on it....

[Quigger]

'WE CAN DO IT, AND WE'RE HERE TO SHOW THAT'
FIRE CAMP PUMPS UP GIRLS' ESTEEM

Copyright 2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
July 23, 2003, Wednesday FINAL

From scaling a 110-foot ladder and rappelling down a five-story building to cutting up cars using a 65-pound "Jaws of Life" and tackling fires, the girls of Camp Blaze aren't to be messed with.
If these teens can rescue a 185-pound simulated victim from a burning building - after just one week of firefighting training - there's little doubt they could hold their own in a male-dominated profession.


That's what Camp Blaze aims to do: help young women develop the confidence and leadership skills to pursue their dreams and goals through teamwork, problem-solving and physical agility.



"The intent of the camp is to build confidence and let (campers) know they can do absolutely anything," said Lt. Suzy Reublin, a camp volunteer and 13-year firefighter in Boulder, Colo. "We want them to leave here believing whatever they set their minds to, they can do."
Camp Blaze was developed three years ago as a project of Women in the Fire Service Inc., a national non-profit committed to increasing women's involvement in firefighting professions. There were 140 applications for 24 spots at this year's weeklong camp, held by the Seattle and Tacoma fire departments.

Most exercises are taking place at the Washington State Patrol Training Academy in North Bend, though yesterday's sessions were at the Tacoma Fire Training Academy, which has special training equipment.

The camp culminates Saturday with a rescue exercise involving a live structure fire.

"We put all the skills together - breathing air, rolling hoses, search and rescue Everything we practice will be put into play," Reublin said.

Teens ages 16 through 19 sweated and struggled their way through grueling physical drills yesterday, accompanied by the cheers of their firefighter counselors and other campers.

"(Camp Blaze) is overpowering with support," said Sarah Davis, a former camper who is now a resident firefighter in training with the Shelton Fire Department. "It's amazing when you sit there and struggle and people cheer you on. It honestly made me want to be a firefighter."

The support of campers, instructors and volunteers is invaluable, Davis said.

"It's amazing how many people, to this day, think women can't do it," she said. "It's tough, physically, mentally, all of it. But we can do it, and we're here to show that. That's what this is all about."

West Seattle camper Caitlin Devlin, 19, plans to attend Seattle Central Community College starting this fall, but then will transfer into the resident firefighters program at Washington State University.

Devlin spent part of yesterday morning using a Jaws of Life tool to pry open a vehicle as part of a victim-recovery exercise.

"It's amazing that we get to learn this all," she said. "It's awesome. It's so hands-on, you're learning while doing. This is exactly what you need to get that step in.

"It's not about if I can do it, it's just about how I get there."

Combating stereotypes is also what it's about, said Raina Eshleman, a firefighter from Vancouver, Wash. Eshleman spent the day checking out the camp as part of a possible plan to establish a similar training program in Portland.

"There's still the belief that firefighters are 6-foot-2, 250-pound males," she said. "But it's more about brainpower than brawn."

P-I reporter Jessica Bennett can be reached at 206-448-8320 or jessicabennett§seattlepi.com


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Sounds like a fun place can they make 1 for guys 16-19?

[NJFFSA16]

As the website states:

We will announce the location for camp, and post applications for campers and volunteers on this site in January, 2004.

The requirements, age limits etc,. are ALL posted there. If you're going to apply.....DO IT EARLY!!

"The intent of the camp is to build confidence and let (campers) know they can do absolutely anything," said Lt. Suzy Reublin, a camp volunteer and 13-year firefighter in Boulder, Colo. "We want them to leave here believing whatever they set their minds to, they can do."

It's a confidence building course...just remember that. You do not receive FF certification.