2 opportunity to interact with firefighters, par amedics, and fire inspectors and gain insight into their daily duties, while host agencies ac quire an additional pipeline for recruitment into entry-level positions.
The Burbank Fire Department is currently working with the Pasadena and Glendale fire departments to develop an inaugural tri-city teen empowerment camp. While details are being finalized as to class size, application process, course length, and agenda, the camp will be free to participants ages fourteen to eighteen and will take place sometime in August 2024 at the Glendale Fire Training Center, which is centrally situated for all three jurisdictions. The Department will coordinate with the City of Burbank’s Public Information Office, the Burbank Unified School District, the City’s recreation programs and community organizations, and participating fire agencies to advertise the program and create tailored promotional material to enc ourage participation amongst popul ations that are currently underrepresented in the fire service. As part of its recruitment and outreach initiatives, the Burbank Fire Department will also presen t participants with information regarding prospective career opportunities with the City’s fire service.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact to the General Fund for facilitating a fire camp is expected to be minimal and will consist of the contribution of staff ti me and existing, in-service resources. The Department anticipates Burbank’s cost of facilitating a tri-ci ty youth fire camp to be approximately $5,000 which can be absorbed in the Fire Department’s Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 budget.
CONCLUSION
Youth fire camps present a civic-minded approach to address recruitment, education, and professional development goals in fire agencie s. The Burbank Fire Department prides itself on its ability to evolve to the changing needs of the community and support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Departm ent is committed to the coordination and implementation of an inaugural tri-city teen empowerment camp and will provide further information to City Council and the community once program details are finalized.