DANVILLE, Pa. — There were quite a few firefighters at Danville Area High School on Friday, but there was no fire, not a real one, anyway.
The school's Fire Club hosted a simulation so students could see what it feels like to fight a fire. Students dressed in full firefighter gear, including breathing packs. There was smoke and a fake fire.
"It seems like it's pretty eye-opening for them so I think it's great to expose the kids to this and see what possibilities and what situations they can run through," said Devon Francke, the Fire Club advisor.
The Danville High School Fire Club started in January with seven members, and it's now up to 19. The club works closely with area fire companies.
"Our ultimate goal is to engage with them, get them excited, and then take it to the next step where they actually go and join their local firehouse," said Eric Frantz with the East End Fire Company
"I volunteered for five years back in State College so we kind of created this idea to get more kids out volunteering by having a club that we run trainings," Francke said.
The students loved seeing what it's like being firefighters. Students in the Fire Club especially liked the simulation.
"Some of these kids don't even want to be volunteer firefighters but they have told us they loved it. It was great. I'm glad I did it, and I think that's the biggest part of it," said freshman Lillyana Torres.
"I like helping people. It gives you something to do," Degan Wedge said. "I decided to try it, too. The gear was heavy, which made me nervous. When I went through the simulation, I had a student in front of me and a student behind me. I could not see anything through the smoke. The experience made me appreciate firefighters even more than I already did."
Organizers hope activities like this will encourage more students to join the Danville High School Fire Club and, in turn, become volunteer firefighters.