Camelback Resorts celebrates third annual Hometown Heroes event with local fire companies

Pocono Twp., Monroe Co — Saturday Camelback Resorts held their third annual Hometown Heroes event.

An event dedicated to connecting the community with local first responders.

This year the Pocono Township Volunteer Fire Company and the Tatamy Fire Company were in attendance.

The Hometown Heroes event, which began three years ago, was developed as a way to familiarize local first responders with the community as well as show off their equipment that they may have only seen in movies.

Michael McMann, chief of the Pocono Township Volunteer Fire Company says that getting a chance to show the younger generations their fire equipment is a privilege to do.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 14 years old and I don't think I would ever want to do anything else so to be able to share my experience or somebody younger or somebody older who may have some extra time,” McMann said.

Lauren Brands, senior activities manager of Camelback Resorts says with the amount of foot traffic the resort is getting during this memorial day weekend, today felt like a perfect time to host to give attendees the chance to try on fire gear and sit inside the fire truck.

“Seeing the expressions on the children's face, I have a son that two years old and I remember bringing him last year and his amazement of seeing a fire truck up close was so humbling, ” Brands said.

The Hometown Heroes event also looks to possibly inspire others to consider joining their local fire departments as volunteering for fire departments across the nation has dropped by 70%.

“Volunteering for a fire department doesn’t mean that you have to be a firefighter. There so many different positions that are in the volunteer department from the business side, from financing to fundraising,” McMann added.

If you did miss out on this event you can see the Pocono Township Volunteer Fire Company at Camelback Resorts for the4th of July fireworks celebration.