Smoke maze provides real life firefighting scenario for Danville High School students

Mar. 22—DANVILLE — Danville Area High School students were challenged to gear up and venture through a maze of artificial smoke to tackle a simulated fire set up in the high school's field house Friday.

Students quickly realized this was no easy feat, according to firefighter Brooks Stahlnecker.

"It's neat to see the students who think they know the field house and (think) it'll be easy come through and realize it's not," Stahlnecker said.

Visibility was an issue for students in the dark field house.

"When they walk in the field house, there is smoke from the ceiling to the floor," firefighter Eric Frantz said.

Some students chose to travel through the maze in their street clothes while others were decked out in real firefighting gear with an air supply.

Firefighter Matt Gum said the maze simulated a house fire.

"The kids are getting a better idea of what it looks like to work a fire, minus the heat," Gum said.

As students took on the maze they were excited and a little nervous, according to Gum.

Danville High School senior Luke Hilkert said it was the first time he experienced anything like the smoke maze.

"It was really weird. I got in there and didn't know what to do," Hilkert said. "We all really had to communicate to put the fire out."

Hilkert said he became interested in firefighting through the Danville Fire Club and is encouraging his peers to join.

"Eric Frantz got me involved with the club and now I tell everyone to think about joining," he said.

Danville's Fire Club was recently started by staff and students to encourage youth to consider training to become a volunteer firefighter.

The local departments have brought activities like Friday's smoke maze to the school to give students an idea of what fighting a fire is like, Frantz said.

Students seemed to enjoy the smoke maze experience and quite a few expressed their interest in potentially becoming a volunteer themselves, according to firefighter Don Schicchitano.

Students were posting photos of themselves and their friends geared up on their social media accounts, Schicchitano said.

Those involved with the club would like to explore the possibility of moving the subject matter into the classroom, according to volunteer firefighter and Montour County Commissioner Trevor Finn.