The Brightside: Salisbury Fire Department sparks interest in fire service

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — The Salisbury Fire Department hosted its Junior Fire Academy, giving kids a behind-the-scenes look at what firefighters do. WMDT has more on the newest edition of The Brightside, sponsored by Choptank Electric Cooperative.

Future firefighters suited up in Salisbury for what may have been the hottest camp in town, with a full schedule of hands-on activities.

“They were doing fire experiments, seeing how smoke works and learning the importance of closing their doors at night,” Salisbury Fire Department paramedic Lauren Stanley said. “Tomorrow we’re doing a Stop the Bleed class with an instructor from Shock Trauma.”

Eighteen young recruits, ages 8 to 12, are getting a behind-the-scenes look at life in the fire service. For Connor Mumford, it’s also a closer look at what his dad does every day.

“I like what we are doing, and I like seeing how people do it on a daily basis,” Connor Mumford said.

For his father, Jeremy Mumford, the camp is about passing along his passion for service.

“He’s starting to fall in love with the fire service. I can see it,” Jeremy Mumford said. “He’s always asking questions. He’s answering the questions the teachers are asking, and he’s right on the money. He listens and understands very quickly.”

Jeremy Mumford remembers following in his grandfather’s footsteps when he was young.

“I’d have a glass of juice while the old-timers would sit around drinking their coffee, giving each other all kinds of trouble and telling stories,” he said. “That’s what I fell in love with.”

Stanley said growing up in a small community with parents who serve on the front lines helps inspire the next generation of first responders.

“We also have kids whose parents are state troopers, and their moms are nurses as well,” Stanley said. “It’s interesting to see their kids here at camp versus out with their parents and see how they interact with other kids.”

By hosting a Junior Fire Academy in Salisbury, the department hopes to inspire today’s campers to become tomorrow’s first responders.

“One of our cadets got in his gear, and the kids got to hear him breathing on oxygen,” Stanley said. “They were kind of shocked by how it sounds. It’s also teaching the kids that if they do have a fire, they should come to us because we’re their friends, not something to be scared of.”