Nearly 30 local children graduated from Laurel’s award-winning Fire Academy for Kids 2008.

The program, which is sponsored by the Laurel Fire Department, is dedicated to teaching safety to children ages eight through 13.

Fire Prevention Officer Alfred Jordan and Training Officer Jimmie Bunch of the Fire Department handled the special academy, which began here in Laurel nine years ago and has now become a national program.

Officials said the academy program, which began in 1999 under the leadership of then Training Officer David Chance (who is now the fire chief) and Prevention Officer Danny Madison, has grown over the years.

Jordan said young people taking part in the academy, which began Monday, learned the difference between Hollywood and real fires. He said the young people learned how a firefighter spends a typical day at the fire station, and about a firefighter’s personal protective equipment.

Also during this week, participants learned about fire hazards in the home and the importance of a home escape plan.

Jordan said officials with EmServ, the South Central Regional Medical Center’s Wellness Program and the Laurel Police Department also assisted with the home and safety portion of the academy.

“We want the participants to be well-rounded,” Jordan said. “We are not only teaching them about fire, life and safety, but we are discussing general safety, nutrition, eating healthy and exploring all aspects of safety.”

Miles Guthrie, 9 1/2 years old, said this was his second year participating in the program.

“I just love to see all the stuff they use at the fire department, like the fire trucks and all the firefighter gear,” Guthrie said. “I learned about how we should protect ourselves from fires and all about safety.”

Jordan said the young people underwent a week of activities designed to educate them on safety and to make them more aware of what firefighters do.

Akurya Evans, also 9 1/2 years old, said the program offers a lot of “great activities.”

“I liked doing all the great activities they had during the week, especially the Water War,” Evans said. “We got to learn other things like what the hospital and police officials do to help others.”

Cody Dearmon, 10 1/2 years old, said he “liked it all, especially the water wars.”

“The challenges were tough, but I learned the dangers of fire,” Dearmon recalled. “I learned that firefighters have to do a lot and they also have to have the right gear when going to fight a fire.”