Guil-Rand Fire Department still basks in the limelight after receiving the North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Education award Feb. 10.

Steve Barr, Guil-Rand fire prevention officer and Mike Witcher, assistant fire chief, accepted the award at the North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Educator’s Conference in Asheville.

Guil-Rand won the award for last year’s fire camp, a week-long opportunity to teach fire safety concepts in a fun way to children ages 7-12.

“This was just a very unique and very innovative idea to get kids involved with fire prevention,” said Jennifer Rumley, chairperson of the Central District of North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Association.

“It was the brainstorm of Charles Cardwell,” said Barr. Cardwell is a lieutenant and the training officer. “We just took the idea and ran with it.”

Frankie Pinnix of Pinecroft-Sedgefield Fire Department nominated Guil-Rand for the award.

“We are thrilled that we were nominated by our peers at Pinecroft-Sedgefield,” said Barr. “There were some larger departments in bigger cities, but we are proud to receive this award.”

North Carolina has three Fire and Life Safety Education districts — western, central and eastern. Guil-Rand’s fire camp was submitted as the central district nomination.

“Nominations for the award were judged on leadership demonstration, innovation, uniqueness, effectiveness of the organization, impact on the safety problem in their community and utilization of area resources to get the whole community involved,” said Dolly Hulin, central district vice chairman for the Association. “The reason we have the award is to recognize individuals, organizations or programs making a difference in preventing the devastating effects of fire and burn injuries within the state.”

Fire camp inspired more than its young campers. Since last summer Barr has received numerous requests from other fire departments who wish to hold their own fire camps.

“We have given these departments copies of our curriculum, handouts and all of our paperwork,” said Barr. “That way they wouldn’t have to re-invent the wheel.”

Guil-Rand is gearing up for another session of fire camp June 21-25.

“The June session is almost full, so we are working to get another session set up in August,” said Barr.

The cost is $50 per camper. For more information, call 431-2512.