Smithton Volunteer Fire Department hosts camp for kids with special needs

A fire is always scary, but for some special needs children it can be even worse.

The unfamiliar sight of firefighters in their gear and the sound of sirens can be frightening.

“Some of this stuff we have here can be overwhelming for them,” said firefighter Lindsey Dawson, of the Smithton Fire Department.

That’s why the department hosted a firefighter camp for special needs kids at the Westmoreland Public Safety Training Center in Smithton.

Kids got to meet firefighters, try on their gear, tour their trucks, spray a fire hose and learn that first responders are nothing to be afraid of.

Turnout was much higher than expected, said Smithton Assistant Fire Chief Marty Ponebshek, who co-organized the event with Dawson.

“We were expecting 30 kids — we got almost 100,” he said.

The fire department got the word out with flyers and posts on social media.

Eight fire departments participated.

“We wanted to take our passion for firefighting and share it with these kids,” Dawson said. “Our biggest thing we hope they get out of this is safety.”

Dawson and Ponebshek said they hope to make the camp an annual event, and plan to bring it back bigger and better next year.