CUMBERLAND — A summer camp aimed at exposing area youth to public safety roles — specifically firefighting and EMS professions — is also highlighting the critical shortage of volunteers nationwide and the importance of getting kids involved early.
The Bedford Road Volunteer Fire Department Fire Camp Class IV wrapped up Friday with a family luncheon and awards ceremony for the 40 youth, ages 9-14, who attended, Chief Eddie Collins said.
“We wanted to find a way to get the youth involved with public safety and to spark their interest in fire and EMS,” Collins said. “Over the last four years, we have graduated over 100 kids.”
Collins said he hopes the graduates take away the leadership, work ethic, discipline, teamwork and accountability needed to strive in the fire service and hopefully lead them down the path of public safety and serving their communities.
These year’s camp offered a variety of courses, including CPR and “Stop the Bleed” certifications.
“For the first time, 15 students were certified in CPR by the American Heart Association,” Collins said. The remaining students received a hands-only CPR card.
Throughout the week, instructors focused on fire dynamics, how a fire moves, the importance of smoke detectors and EMS operations, including having Garrett College on site with its patient simulating mannequin, Collins said.
He added that attendees did water rescue drills at Rocky Gap State Park, visited the Allegany County Joint Communications Center and the Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 5 hanger at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport.
Growing class size
In previous years, the department had 30 attendees with a long waitlist.
“We decided to increase the number after last year’s camp had a large waitlist,” Collins said. “This year’s camp (registration) filled up in three hours.”
Collins said that youth from Frederick County, Morgantown, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania attended this year’s camp, which is funded by donations from local businesses and members of the community.
“It is close to 90/10 on funding,” Collins said. “Ninety percent donations, 10% department (funded).”
“We have had a number of kids join the cadet program after spending a week at camp,” Collins said.
One former attendee, Crayton Cessna, who is 16 and a dual member with Bedford Road and Cresaptown volunteer fire departments, recently completed the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Firefighter 1 course.
“He was part of our fire camp Class I,” Collins said.
Cessna assisted recruits with the vehicle extrication portion of camp on Thursday.
“At the end of the week, they gave us the opportunity to fill out an application to become a cadet member,” Cessna recalled. “I took that opportunity to become a cadet.”
Monroe Campbell, 13, who has attended the camp twice, said she is considering a firefighting or nursing career from the skills taught during the fire, rescue and medical portions of the camp.
“From this camp, I have learned a lot of things. I am now CPR certified,” Campbell said.
She described using the firefighting and rescue tools on emergency scenes.
Campbell said the first year she attended she was nervous, but made friends quickly and the instructors encouraged comradery with the classes.
“The instructors are really friendly and don’t make you feel nervous,” Campbell said.
Mason Ryan, a 10-year-old from Cumberland, said he enjoyed his experience at camp, as well as being around the fire house for the week.
“It’s all really fun,” Ryan said. “… having people all around, making new friends, having fun, getting wet.”
Ryan said that he doesn’t have a career picked out but the camp has him considering the fire department, among other careers.
“The fire department, police, Navy, NASCAR … I don’t know which one I am picking yet,” Ryan said.
This year is Kinley Dicken’s second time attending camp. The 10-year-old from Cresaptown wants to be a doctor when she gets older and emphasized the medical courses at the camp.
“I like fire camp because you get to learn ‘Stop the Bleed,’ CPR and all that fun stuff,” Dicken said.
Dicken encouraged other kids to sign up for the camp in the future.
Collins said that at the end of the week instructors from across Allegany County, including Bedford Road, Baltimore Pike, Oldtown, Bowling Green and Cumberland, will have logged more than 1,500 hours with the youth.
Volunteer shortages
The Maryland State Firefighters Association identified 362 volunteer departments across the state facing intensifying staffing and funding challenges in 2026.
The National Fire Protection Association says the issue is not just in Maryland. Nationwide there is a severe shortage of volunteer firefighters. Unpaid responders make up more than 60% of all U.S. firefighters and serve half the population, but the system is currently facing an escalating retention and recruitment crisis, according to group’s website.
Collins said a key component to recruitment is getting to youth when they are young to pique their interest by getting them involved in the fire service and giving back to their community.
“When you look at high school (academy) programs in Washington, St. Mary’s and Charles counties who have large graduating classes,” Collins said. “it helps populate the volunteer side with young, active members.”
Collins said students in these programs graduate with a fire certification and a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician certification.
“Those classes in addition to the other classes they obtain during those two years convert to about 15 colleges credit hours,” Collins said.
He added that the classes not only expose students to the profession but qualifies them to pursue a career in public safety.
A high school academy isn’t available in Allegany County; however, by joining a fire department, all training is free through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.