It was a busy morning at the D.C. Fire Academy, with new recruits and cadets suiting up and learning how to go into a burning building.
At the same time, another group of young people were also learning the skills needed to be a firefighter.
About two dozen District youth between 16 and 20 years old are taking part in the D.C. Fire Action program. It’s part summer camp part summer job, entirely focused on introducing young people to careers with D.C. Fire and EMS.
The program is part of the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. In addition to the experience, the teens are also being paid.
Alaysha Grover is going through the program for her second year. Her sights are set on becoming a firefighter one day.
News4 asked her why she wants to be a firefighter.
“The adrenaline rush that it gives you, and I like working with others,” Grover said.
As for what her friends think about her spending her summers with the fire department, she said, “They think I’m crazy. It’s a hundred and something degrees. You know, you choose to be here. So, it’s a choice, and that’s what I want to do.”
On Wednesday, the group was going through personal training and exercise regimens, and they spent Tuesday on the D.C. fire boats learning about water rescues.
Sgt. Shalonda Smith has been a D.C. firefighter for 20 years and started when she was Grover’s age.
“It’s a starting point for them to kind of get an idea of what firefighters do on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “So, if they are thinking about coming into the career of being a firefighter, this is definitely a great starting point. They get to see how we work out, how we use tools and appliances, what they’re used for, and just how day-to-day life.”
Both women know firefighting has traditionally been a male-dominated career.
“[Grover] really is passionate about being a firefighter and she can do it,” Smith said. “You know, I started young, and it’s something that can be done if you put your mind to it and put your all into it, put your all into it.”
“I like doing a male job,” Grover said, “So, it’s mainly male predominant, so we don’t have that many women on the job, so we need people to join and help.”
For Grover, she told News4 she’s learning new lessons everyday.
“You’ve got to push yourself to do something that you want to do,” she said. “It’s a career.
You’ve got people with lives that are on the line, so you’ve got to save them.”
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/FEC6b42
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