TAMPA - The Community Development Corporation of Tampa and the Tampa Fire Department have partnered to bridge the hiring gap by hosting a camp to expose teens and especially young women to a career as a first responder. 

Since the Youth Fire Academy began virtually during the pandemic —the camp has been able to create the hands on mentorship experience  that was initially intended.

During the camp Hillsborough County High School students were able to visit fire stations in Tampa, have face time with fire-fighters and learn about their careers.

The camp is co-ed, but the CDC of Tampa has been pushing to recruit high school females to explore employment options in the field of firefighting, .

According to the National Fire Protection Association, women make up less thaN 10 percent of the fire service nationwide

“What were able to do is examine where the need was in the community. Where are the gaps? Where are our students not getting employed at? So we identified the Fire Department and the Police Department specifically because a lot of times our students are unaware of what the Fire department does and Police department as public servants. To me as a member of the CDC of Tampa which our role is the uplift the community; what not a better program to bring?,” said Youth Services Coordinator Alexandria Andrade.  

This is also a ground-breaking year for the Tampa Fire Department which welcomed its first female Fire Chief Barbara Tripp who played a critical role in the camp. 

While speaking to a dozen students who graduated from the camp Friday, Chief Tripp shared that she initially had other career plans, but ultimately found her purpose in the fire service.  

“Hearing from the Chief and her speech, I loved it,” said student Darlean Jean-Baptiste. “It was inspiring that a woman of color could just do all of this. It motivates women and people of color to do the same. 

So far the program has been a success with graduates of the camp moving on to join the Police and Fire Academy.

Visit this link to learn more about the Youth Fire Academy and CDC Tampa.