PIKE COUNTY, Pa. — As smoke poured out of the Pike County Training Center, high school students suited up, ready to put their skills to the test with a live burn.
"Everybody is kind of nervous going into this; no one is ever fully prepared there could be something that goes wrong," said Keith Wyman, Wallenpaupack Area High School Senior.
The training is part of the Wallenpaupack Area School District's Career Technical Education Protective Services Program. The goal is to recruit the next generation of first responders.
"There's not a greater need, I think, in our community than on the first responder front, whether it is law enforcement, EMS, or fire," said Superintendent Keith Gunuskuy, Wallenpaupack Area School District.
It's a big day for these students; they've made a three-year commitment to get to this point in their training. They're the first class to participate in a live burn.
"This group has completed law enforcement training in tenth grade, EMS training in eleventh grade, and now firefighting in twelfth grade. So this will be the culmination of the entire Protective Services program," explained Superintendent Gunuskey.
"It means the world, honestly; I didn't realize I liked emergency management until I started going in it and going through it; I fall in love with it even more every day," said Emma Cykoskey, Wallenpaupack Area High School Senior.
Students from Delaware Valley, Western Wayne, and Wayne Highlands are also in the program.
For students like senior Keith Wyman, becoming a firefighter is something he's always wanted to do.
"It's Important cause it's like one step closer to my career, helping me out, getting me towards my career in the fire department. It means a lot that I'm here, and I can do this with all these wonderful people here," said Wyman.
Students say they hope more of their peers get involved in training to become first responders.