Zachary Wade rests on his knees, looking inside the large wooden box made to roughly resemble a home. It’s getting hotter inside his suit as the flames start to stretch outside the box’s frame, and if it wasn’t for his oxygen mask, the air would not be fit to breathe.
Wade has been involved with the children’s camp at the Icard Township Fire Department since its inception 10 years ago. But since then, a lot has changed. His legs are longer, his voice is deeper and his role has shifted from student to teacher.
The camp did exactly what it was supposed to do 10 years ago, and it aimed to do the same thing this week: recruit young firefighters.