Bloomfield Fire Department's Girls on Fire Camp Expands to Full Week: 60 Girls Learn Firefighting Skills with $17K Grant Support

The Bloomfield Fire Department wrapped up its fourth annual Girls on Fire camp in August 2026, and this year's program was bigger than ever. What started as a two-day introduction to firefighting expanded into a full five-day experience, giving 60 local girls in grades 4 through 6 the chance to train alongside the department's firefighters. A $17,000 grant from the Essex County Youth Services Commission helped make the expansion possible.

Beyond the numbers, this program matters to anyone thinking about what Bloomfield offers families. Community programs like Girls on Fire signal that a town invests in its youth, builds opportunity, and supports the kind of hands-on learning that helps kids see what they can become. For homebuyers with children, that is the kind of detail that can tip a decision.

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What is Girls on Fire?

The Girls on Fire camp is exactly what it sounds like. Participants spend their days at the Bloomfield Fire Department learning real firefighting skills hose handling, ladder operations, search-and-rescue techniques, and equipment familiarization. They wear scaled-down turnout gear, climb onto fire trucks, and work through scenarios that teach both technical skills and teamwork.

The camp is led by the first women to serve as firefighters in Bloomfield, which makes the experience especially powerful. The girls get to learn from women who have walked the same path they might imagine for themselves. Firefighting is a field where women remain underrepresented, and programs like this one plant a seed early.

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Why the expansion matters

Going from two days to five days is a meaningful leap. A two-day program is a taste. A full-week program is an experience. The girls get more time to build confidence, more hands-on drills, and a deeper understanding of what the job actually involves. The $17,000 grant from the Essex County Youth Services Commission covered the added costs of staff, materials, and extended programming.

The expansion also reflects the program's popularity. Each year, the Bloomfield Fire Department has seen growing interest from families. The 60 spots filled quickly, and the department has indicated it would like to continue growing the program in future years. For a midsize Essex County town, sustaining a program like this says something about local priorities.

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What it means for Bloomfield families and homebuyers

As a local real estate agent, I talk with families every week about what they are looking for in a community. School quality is usually at the top of the list, but after that, it is often about opportunity. Parents want to know that their kids will have access to programs, activities, and experiences that help them grow. A fire department that runs a dedicated camp for girls, and expands it because the demand is there, is one example of a town creating that opportunity.

When you look at Bloomfield as a place to put down roots, it is worth noticing:

• The town invests in youth programming even beyond the school system, through partnerships between municipal departments and county grant programs.
• The fire department is forward-thinking about community engagement and inclusion. Programs like Girls on Fire build trust between residents and first responders.
• The program is led by actual female firefighters who serve as visible role models for young participants. That representation matters in a community's civic life.

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The bigger picture

Bloomfield has been investing in quality-of-life improvements across the board in 2026. Alongside the Girls on Fire camp expansion, the township has launched a 150-tree planting initiative, completed the Children's Library restoration, upgraded intersection safety, and pursued flood prevention infrastructure. These are not isolated projects; they add up to a town that is actively managing its growth and livability.

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The bottom line

The Girls on Fire camp expansion is a small story with a big signal. It says Bloomfield is the kind of place where the fire department runs a week-long program for 60 girls, where a $17,000 grant goes toward showing young residents what they can achieve, and where the first women to serve as firefighters are now leading the next generation. If you are considering a move to Bloomfield, that is the kind of detail that makes a town feel like home.

If you would like to learn more about Bloomfield's neighborhoods, schools, and community life, I am here to help. Every family's priorities are different, and understanding what a town offers beyond the list price is what I do best.