DANVILLE, Pa. — The field house was filled with smoke at Danville Area High School and there were plenty of firefighters on scene, but this was not an emergency. It was a simulation drill for the Danville High School Fire Club. The club was created last year as a way to teach students about what volunteer firefighting is all about.
"Here in Danville we have not just students but also adults that don't realize that our fire service is provided by volunteers," Eric Frantz said.
The fire club started with seven members and is now up to 17. The club works closely with area fire companies. Organizers hope it will help boost the ranks in Montour County, as membership numbers are declining when it comes to volunteer firefighters.
"Our age of our average volunteer is in the 40s so we need to get some youth into the system. What better way to do that than here at the high school," Frantz said.
Students learn all about the fire service by doing activities like line work and fire simulation. Most of the students are now volunteer firefighters in their communities.
"A lot of people don't realize that firefighting is a volunteer thing and that anybody can do it. The club really gets people out and doing the things," Holden Frantz said.
"I like most is getting kids involved and letting them try new things. It's not every day you get to go into a fake burning building, try on all the gear and go on air. It's a lot of fun," Lilly Torres said.
Organizers hope activities like this will encourage more students to join the Danville High School Fire Club and, in turn, become volunteer firefighters.