Asheville middle-schoolers can participate in free fire camp

The Asheville Fire Department will hold its annual fire summer camp, Fire Escape, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 19-22.

Designed for middle school children ages 11 to 13, this free summer series is a highly interactive camp filled with great hands on activities. Most activities are conducted in pairs or teams, in which the campers must work together and rely on each other to succeed. The program is designed to impart an appreciation of fire and life safety issues, develop valuable skills used in search and rescue operations, increase team building skills, and become an advocate for safety. It allows the kids to meet local firefighters and learn what it takes to be one!

Camp activities are held at the Local 865 Asheville Firefighters’ Associations campgrounds at 227 Clayton Road Arden. A drop-off and pick-up location will be available to help with transportation at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave.

For more information and to apply, visit ashevillenc.gov/fire and click on the application for Fire Escape (lower left side of the page). The deadline to sign up is June 1.

For questions regarding the camp, email AFD Deputy Fire Marshal Kelly Hinz at khinz@ashevillenc.gov.