Webster City Fire Capt. Andy Sowle's daughters, JJ and Emma, watch a demonstration from inside the Webster City Fire Station. They were too young to participate in Camp Ignite Her, according to organizer Firefighter Amanda Staley, but they wanted to watch the house fire demonstration.

Fourteen girls attended Camp Ignite Her last week in Webster City, the first-ever female fire camp offered by the Webster City Fire Department.

Amanda Staley, Webster City’s only female firefighter, led the program.

For the past five years, Staley has been a member of Webster City Fire. She worked in Duncombe as an EMT and firefighter previously.

Staley initiated the idea of establishing a camp to encourage women to take a role in firefighting.

“She has always had a passion to try to encourage young girls to get involved with the fire department,” Webster City Fire Chief Chuck Stansfield said. “This year when she asked if we could try the camp, I said, ‘Let’s do it.'”

Staley was pleased with the outcome.

“It went really, really well,” she said. “They learned a lot and hopefully we will get some in the cadet program.”

The Cadet program has been in place for the last three or four years. Currently, only boys participate. Staley hopes Camp Ignite Her will change that.

“The Chief has been working with the cadets,” she explained. “Right now we have three boys. From camp, we might have two (girls) interested in the cadet program.”

The girls who attended the camp ranged from ages 13 to 18. The training gave them a glimpse into the roles and skills needed to become a firefighter.

Cadets have to be between the ages of 14 and 18. The cadets start assisting with fire calls and even, though they are young, there are things they are allowed to do.

Last week, in addition to Staley, Webster City Fire Captains Jeromy Estlund and Andy Sowle, Lieutenants Don Zehner and Don Wills, and Firefighters Dakota Feickert, Michael Lehman and Connor Hanson helped create Camp Ignite Her.

Joleah Stuhr, from Duncombe Fire, was an instructor for both days.

The girls learned hands-on experience in addition to safety instruction.

They were taught during a live fire demonstration how fire reacts to air and the lack of it.

They learned about search and rescue calls, how to put a fire out with an extinguisher, how to drag someone out of a home, how to force a door for getting into a home with an axe and halligan, and how to flow a real fire hose.

In addition, they experienced what it is like to have an SCBA breathing apparatus on and they attempted the Webster City Fire physical agility test.

In a show of support, a number of local women’s businesses donated food, snacks and drinks for the two-day camp.

At the end of the second day, they all rode the fire truck and met Webster City’s City Manager John Harrenstein. They were also given the opportunity to thank some of the women who helped sponsor the camp.

Each girl who completed all the events received a certificate. That means they now have a chance to become fire cadets with Webster City Fire.

So what was the best part of the camp?

Staley had a quick answer.

“Middle school girls can be mean to each other,” Staley said, “but they worked together really well. It was fun to watch some younger girls doing what I love.”