TEMPLE, Texas — Over 160 kids joined Temple Fire and Rescue on Tuesday, June 25 for the TF&R Junior Cadet Camp, to learn what it takes to be the next generation of firefighters.
6 News Reporter For the Day Jackson King visited the camp to get the full story.
Temple Fire and Rescue said the camp is a "scaled down" version of the fire academy, and a way to show the kids the things that they do to become firefighters.
"The things that we do to become firefighters is what we put these kids through," said Temple Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Santos Soto.
The camp has been going for 26 years, but Soto said this year's camp set a new record in attendance, with 168 kids signing up in a span of just four hours.
Soto told 6 News the children who attended the camp learned different aspects of firefighting like CPR, first aid and even got to climb one of the big aerial ladders.
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"You'll see them learning how to use the things we use on a daily basis," Soto said.
Soto said some of the children who have attended the camp have gone on to become firefighters themselves.
"Absolutely, that's our hope," Soto told 6 News. "While it's not a requirement, we have had some folks in the past become law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs".
"A firefighter is my dream job," said Rayleigh, one of the attendees at the camp, "I can make lots of friends and socialize with everybody so it's really fun."
Rayleigh said this year is her third or fourth year at the camp, and she keeps coming back.
"It's a really fun camp and I love it," said Rayleigh.
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