Prepping The Next Generation Of Firefighters

Kids practice using a Thermal Imaging Camera that allows firefighters to see areas of heat and locate victims through heavy smoke. Photo by Rachel Sarah Berkowitz

Juniors and the Dix Hills FD instructors meet Sasha the Arson Detection Dog at Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. Photo by Rachel Sarah Berkowitz

Juniors get a tour of the Suffolk Police helicopter at the Aviation Bureau. Photo by Rachel Sarah Berkowitz

All 16 members of the junior program received CPR certifications. Photo by Rachel Sarah Berkowitz

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Dix Hills Fire Department hosted a Junior Fire and EMS Academy for children ages 11-14. The program, which ran for five days from Aug. 14-18, was created through a collaboration between the Dix Hills Fire Department and the Town of Huntington. Sixteen kids attended the second annual week-long camp, according to Dix Hills Fire Commissioner Todd Cohen.

“The counselors who ran the camp were volunteers from the Dix Hills Fire Department,” said Cohen, adding that the program could not have happened without the hard work of dedicated volunteers

“This year we had no problems getting volunteers to help, and they really enjoyed working with the kids,” said Cohen.

Cohen said the main purpose of the program is to provide kids with an introduction to the volunteer fire service, as well as fostering interest in medicine and emergency response.  

The academy was designed to expose the young participants to a variety of first responder agencies. Pilots in the Air National Guard and Suffolk Police gave tours of helicopters, and the kids got to meet Suffolk County’s arson detection dog Sasha. Volunteers from the Dix Hills Fire Department put on a car fire demonstration, but Cohen said the highlight of the program was the opportunity to ride on the crash trucks at the MacArthur Airport fire-rescue station.

“At the end of the week we had a graduation ceremony on Friday,” Cohen said. All the participants earned certifications in first aid and CPR.

The academy is currently capped at 20 children, but Cohen is confident that interest in the academy will grow as news of the program’s success spreads. He said that the Smithtown and East Northport Fire Departments expressed interest in participating.

“We are going to try to increase the number of kids next year, the word is getting out that this academy is something that kids really enjoy,” Cohen said. “My hope is that down the road we can make this a larger town-wide program.”