By Yolanda Jones
The Commercial Appeal
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Bailey Crafton and his brother, Logan Dunavent, were serious about Southaven’s Fire Academy for Kids, as the two wore colorful flame-decorated shorts on their third day in the training camp.
The two are among 20 kids taking part in Southaven’s first junior fire academy.
The weeklong academy started Monday, and by Wednesday most of the kids had already decided they want to be firefighters when they grow up.
“This training has helped me decide that I would like to be a fireman one day,” said 8-year-old Hannah Jordan of Southaven.
Southaven’s Fire Department is the second in DeSoto to host a fire camp for kids. Horn Lake Fire Department is also hosting one.
Southaven Fire Capt. Malena Alderman said they got the idea from the Mississippi Department of Health, which gave the department a safety grant for the academy.
“This is our first year, and the academy is about instructing the kids about fire safety and what firemen do,” she said.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, when the campers arrived at the department’s training facility where actual firefighters do their training, the kids spent the morning learning safety tips such as what information to provide when calling 911.
After the classroom instruction, the kids went through an obstacle course where they practiced stop, drop and roll and how to safely evacuate a burning building.
After all the physical activity, the campers had some time to play in the water as the department’s ladder truck hose cooled them off.
Southaven Fire Chief Ronnie White said they would love to expand the academy next year.
“If we could make the fire academy mobile by taking it to kids who don’t have a way to get here, that would be great,” White said.
The academy ends Friday with a graduation.
“My kids love this academy,” said Stacy Crafton, as she took pictures of her sons going through the obstacle course. “They have learned invaluable lessons about what to do in an emergency. I’m happy because they are prepared.”
Copyright 2011 The Commercial Appeal, Inc.