Washington, DC Local 36 brought excitement and inspiration to young women with Camp Spark, an inspiring two-day event providing hands-on training to young girls in the community.
The event, sponsored by the Local and the D.C. Fire and EMS Department, kicked off Saturday, teaching participants essential firefighting skills, including forcible entry and ladder work.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this,” said Jaden Gooding, a Local 36 fire fighter, EMT, and first-time program instructor. “Seeing the girls light up when they handle tools like ladders and axes is amazing. They might come in thinking these tools are too big for them but watching them gain confidence and master these skills is incredibly rewarding.”
Liliana Luevano, who is also new to Camp Spark, said the camp features 30 girls from the community, between the ages of 12 through 17. “It’s fantastic to see these young women, who come from all sorts of backgrounds like cheerleading and dancing, dive into firefighting,” she said. “It’s a whole new world for them and watching them embrace it is just incredible.”
The camp’s hands-on approach includes learning how to manage hose lines, connect to hydrants, and conduct search and rescue operations. Luevano says the highlight of the event is a simulated box-alarm drill where the campers put their new skills to the test in a realistic fire scenario in front of their parents.
“The graduation ceremony is a particularly special moment,” said Luevano. “Parents come to see what the girls have accomplished, and each participant is awarded a certificate recognizing their hard work and new abilities.”
“Seeing the girls light up when they handle tools like ladders and axes is amazing. They might come in thinking these tools are too big for them but watching them gain confidence and master these skills is incredibly rewarding.”
jaden gooding, local 36 member and instructor
Seventeen-year-old Justice, whose father is a fire fighter, says the experience has been worthwhile. “Forcible entry was definitely my favorite,” she says. ““The camp made me reconsider things. At first, I didn’t want to be a fire fighter, but the camp made me see what they do, and it’s fun, it’s a great experience. For people who want to join, do it just to get the experience and see if you like it or not.”
Local 36 President Dave Hoagland attended the event and praised all involved with making the weekend a success. “Local 36 is happy to support recruitment initiatives like Camp Spark in order to get the next generation interested in a career in the fire service.”
To the instructors and Local 36 members, Camp Spark is more than just a training event—it opens doors to new possibilities, inspiring more young women to explore careers in the field.
“I just want them to know they can do it, showing them that even as fire fighters, we’re all different sizes, come from different backgrounds, and can do the same job,” Gooding said. “I want them to know we can too.”
Organizers say they’re looking ahead and hope to welcome at least 60 girls next year.
