A program by Ohio Youth Fire is inspiring the next generation of first responders

By: Ty Carpenter
Posted on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025

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NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) – The blast of water from the hose kicks back hard, but these students cannot afford to flinch. 

Dressed in full gear under a blazing sun, other firefighters get set and enter the door to a smoke-filled tower.

The conditions are intense and visibility is low as firefighters yell out commands. 

This is just a simulation, but it’s designed to feel real. 

Forty-three high school students gathered at Hocking College last week to learn what it takes to become a firefighter. The seven-day program held by the Ohio Youth Fire and EMS academy gives students training before placing them into real-world scenarios with real fire equipment.

“When you go in the building, they have it completely smoked out. You can’t see,” said Cole Aeby, a student at the camp. “They pretty much teach you how to do everything from ladders to searching, forcible entry. … All the good stuff that you would need to know to become a firefighter.”

The program has been hosting students from Ohio and New Jersey since 2004 and has seen consistent success. Among the scenarios offered, students learn how to cut open a car, extinguish a mock fire or perform a search and rescue. Many students return each year, and some even go on to become instructors themselves. 

“We make it as real and as safe as we possibly can,” said Aaron Beaver, a program instructor. “And those that actually go on into the job, a lot of them credit what we do here as to why they continued into the fire service and EMS.”

According to a report by the Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service, there was a 6.5% decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters in Ohio from 2018 to 2021. Rural communities increasingly rely on volunteer firefighting services, placing them at increased risk of limited fire protection. 

“What we want to do is produce more firefighters. We want to help youth develop into firefighters,” said Gary Zehring, the Youth Committee chairman for the Ohio Firefighters Association.

“I’ve been on for 50 years and one day my day is going to stop,” said Zehring. “And if we don’t look for the youth to bring up, then we’re not doing our job as firefighters.”

While the program is only a week in the heat, for many it is a critical step toward helping their communities.

“I care very deeply about the future of fire service,” said Beaver. “And if this is what I can do to … maybe get them excited about being a fireman. That’s what keeps me coming back year after year.” 

If you are interested in volunteer firefighting, click here for more information. More information on Ohio Youth Fire can be found here: The Ohio Youth Fire & EMS Training Academy – Ohio’s Junior Firefighter Academy