Annual Junior Fire Academy Returns to Redwood City: PHOTOS

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The City of Redwood City Fire Department's 11th Annual Junior Fire Academy launched this week, igniting the imaginations of boys and girls who dream about what it's like to be a firefighter.

The popular community outreach program, which runs through Friday, aims to inspire kids to learn more about fire safety and how the fire department serves the public.

"The Junior Fire Academy is one of our most popular and gratifying community outreach programs," said Redwood City Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief David Pucci. "Over the past 11 years we've trained more than 400 local youth on important life-saving skills and hopefully inspire them to work in civil service when they grow up."

Kids ages 11-14 will learn about First Aid / CPR, Fire Safety EDITH (Exit Drills at home), proper use of fire extinguishers, disaster preparedness, cooking safety, obstacle course and many other fire-department-based skills and activities.

Youth get hands-on with engaging learning activities such as extinguishing real fires, spraying a real fire hose, confidence challenges and get an opportunity to climb the 100 -foot ladder on the fire truck. Participants will learn about these skills and careers in civil service from fire officers, fire prevention officers, paramedics and firefighters.

Applications for the 2017 Junior Fire Academy will be available in March 2017.

— Submitted for publication by the city of Redwood City.