Local fire station supports kids ‘Burn Camp, aiding young survivors’ recovery’

FRUITLAND, Mo. (KBSI) – In a big act of community support Fruitland Area Fire Protection District presented a donation to the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp.

The donation was presented to the camp on Tuesday May 6, 2025, in the amount of $12,534.01.

The money will send at least 6 campers to burn camp.

Burn Camp offers children who have been burned during a fire or suffered injuries through smoke inhalation a place to thrive and meet other kids just like them.

The camp is free and is made possible through donations.

Rob Francis is the Fruitland Fire Protection District Fire Chief. His department stood outside collecting donations from community members for two days. The department successfully collected over $12,000.

The money was handed over to Midwest Burn Camp to help send young burn survivors to camp. Francis says this couldn’t have been made possible without the support of the community. 

“Every year I look at it, at how blessed we are to have the people we have here. It overwhelms my heart to see how people come forward to help kids that need the help” says Francis.

The funds raised will cover all costs for at least 6 campers for a week of summer camp. Children who have gone through a life changing experience get to come together in friendship, laughter and healing. Madeleine Carson is the Burns Recovered Program Director, she shares the impact burn camp can have.

“Children’s burn camp is one of the only burn camps in the region. And when you’re a burn survivor it can be very, very isolating and when they come to camp, some campers have never met another burn survivor before and so being able to spend time in fellowship and community with someone who has gone through a similar experience it really helps them with not only their physical recovery from a burn injury but their emotional recovery as well” says Carson.

Through the help of local fire departments and community efforts young burn survivors get a life changing experience regard-less of financial situations.

“Sometimes burn survivors are bullied when they are at home in their community” says Carson. “They get a lot of unwanted questions, they get a lot of unwanted stares. When they come to camp we teach them there’s more to them than the scars on the outside but its what’s on the inside that counts and to help them understand that they own their story and understand that’s what makes them unique but also that they are a person who has been burned and they do not have to identify just as a burn survivor. They can identify as a young person who’s gone through something very tough but is on the way to recovery with the community behind them.”   

For more information on Midwest Burn Camp Midwest Children’s Burn Camp – Burns Recovered.