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Do IT this week: Layering
Burn campers, firefighters and hospital employees enjoy event with their families
By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Aug 07, 2009
NEW FRANKLIN: It was hard to tell who was having more fun Thursday during Fire Truck Day at Portage Lakes State Park — firefighters or kids who are attending Burn Camp this week.
Akron Children's Hospital and area fire departments join together each year to provide an exciting day in a man-made lake of foam, rides in an aerial platform truck that took them 100 feet in the air and an up-close view of a helicopter.
''It is truly a fun time and everybody gets a chance to be a kid again,'' said Akron firefighter Mark Harper Sr., who helped organize the event.
Only about 24 of the more than 200 people attending Fire Truck Day in the main parking lot at the park were camp attendees. Firefighters and hospital employees also brought their children.
''This is the only day we allow people other than the camp kids to participate,'' said Harper, who is an injury prevention technician at the hospital.
Anyone visiting the park also was invited to join in the fun, he said. Fire departments from 24 Summit and Stark county communities provided manpower and trucks for the event.
The Aluminum Cans for Burned Children program pays for campers to attend the annual camp through donations of cans for recycling.
The Summit/Stark chapter of Aluminum Cans for Burned Children is a collaborative effort by the hospital and area fire departments.
Maria Prinzo of Barberton, a board member of ACBC, brought her children: Matthew, 11, and Ava Dobbins, 6.
''It's the highlight of the week. Several older kids will come back for this event,'' Prinzo said of former campers.
Akron firefighter Shawn Gauer was manning a pumper that was providing water to make a huge lake of foam in a grassy area adjacent to the parking lot. The nine-year veteran of the department said at first he didn't want his name to appear in print.
''If I tell you my name, I'll have to buy ice cream for the whole station,'' he said.
He relented in order to talk about Jonathan Hibbs, 12, a relative and a burn survivor.
In 2004, when Jonathan was 7 years old, fumes from a gas can he was carrying ignited as he walked past a burning barrel.
Jonathan has been attending Burn Camp ever since, his mother said.
''The first year he was here with bandages on his head,'' Angela Hibbs said.
The Tallmadge youngster said the foam was his favorite part of the experience.
''It's fun to play in,'' he said.
Gauer, whose father, Lt. Phil Gauer is in the HazMat Bureau, said he would be glad to provide ice cream today for fellow firefighters at Akron's Station 9 in Highland Square.
''It's all right. I'll buy,'' he said.
Kathy Antoniotti can be reached at 330-996-3565 or kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.
NEW FRANKLIN: It was hard to tell who was having more fun Thursday during Fire Truck Day at Portage Lakes State Park — firefighters or kids who are attending Burn Camp this week.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:10 AM, 08/07/2009
Dozens and dozens of comments about our drinking mayor interfering with police and no comments yet about the good things done by the good guys in trying to improve the lives of burned kids. WAY TO GO AFD
and thanks for "serving" even while not on duty.
Canton, OH
Posted 08:09 AM, 08/07/2009
great story!!! nice to see some positive uplifting story - and great for some of these kids to get to do things they otherwise couldn't.
Takes to all the firefighters - all of you deserve ice cream!
Mogadore, OH
Posted 09:25 AM, 08/07/2009
Thanks to firefighters and paramedics everywhere for their dedicated service all the time.
