Inaugural class graduates from Savannah Fire Department’s Camp Hero

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -The Savannah Fire Department’s inaugural class of Camp Hero participants officially graduated from the program Saturday morning. This was the first ever camp just for young men, hoping to learn what it takes to become a firefighter.

“It’s fun, exhilarating...”

That’s how Aiden Gorlesky describes his time in the two day program. Gorlesky always knew he wanted to be a firefighter, but he didn’t know where to start.

Over the last two and a half days, he and other young men have been getting hands-on experience, learning what it really takes to work as a team, and keep the public safe.

“Going down a 100-foot ladder and then exhalating down a building was exhilarating for me,” Gorlesky recounts.

On Saturday, all of Gorlesky’s and his fellow Camp Hero participants’ hard work paid off.

After successfully putting out this car fire, these young men graduated from the program, and were honored for all their strength and hard work.

“They helped secure a water supply. They pulled fire hoses. They also used extrication tools to open up the vehicle. And they did all of that after really only seeing it once or twice and not even really getting to practice it much,” explained the camp’s lead instructor, Trevor Jaha.

Jaha said the program is meant to instill leadership and life lessons in these teens, whether they want to become a firefighter like Aiden or not.

“They learn certain qualities, for instance, of integrity, taking initiative, what persistence and hard work pays, being able to know what our limitations are and sometimes push beyond them,’ Jaha said.

This was the Savannah Fire Department’s first-ever Camp Hero, but it’s far from being the last.

“Everyone should try to get in if they want to see what firefighting is like,” said Gorlesky.