South Fulton Fire Rescue Department Hosts Fourth Annual Camp E.M.B.E.R.S.
SOUTH FULTON, Georgia (June 13, 2025) — This week, 20 young women from Fulton County took part in an immersive five-day camp aimed at growing their understanding of careers in firefighting and public safety.
Camp E.M.B.E.R.S. — which stands for “every member brings excellence, resilience, and significance” — is led by the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department. It is designed for girls from age 14 to 18 and offers training and mentorship from female firefighters and other public safety personnel that grows student understanding of key safety tips from public safety campaigns, as well as the systems and structures designed to keep them safe in their communities.
The camp, which started in 2022, is one way South Fulton Fire Rescue Department recruits more female firefighters. According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 10% of firefighters in South Fulton identify as female compared to the national average which stands around 4% for career firefighters. After the 2024 camp, the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department saw two of the 15 campers join their ranks — marking a 13% recruitment rate from the camp alone. Alongside those new recruits, a third student is now studying fire science at Atlanta Technical College as a result of her camp experience.
“We’ve seen incredible results over the last few years with campers sharing that this experience helped them not only consider potential new careers but also better understand the safety risks around them, which means they’ll live safer lives as a result of their time here,” said Shameka Rhodes, camp director and fire and life safety educator with the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department. “What we want everyone to remember about Camp E.M.B.E.R.S. is campers don’t have to become firefighters; we simply want to give them the boost of confidence so they can be whatever they want to be.”
This experiential camp walks female students through careers ranging from the fire service and community risk reduction to the police department, emergency dispatchers, fire inspectors, fire investigators and code enforcement by inviting students to engage in practical activities from each field including a fire engine walk-through, taking part in firefighter training and CPR certification, as well as a mock search and rescue operation. At the end of the week, campers take part in mock panel interviews and a formal graduation.
Alongside unique “day in the life of” experiences in various public safety fields, Camp E.M.B.E.R.S. directly connects the importance of STEM education to these careers by having campers take part in hands-on investigations from UL Research Institutes’ safety science education platform, Xplorlabs. An award-winning platform that has been recognized for helping fire departments meet the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s accreditation criteria for external agency partnerships, Xplorlabs brings real-world phenomena to community educators and classroom teachers to help students better understand the science of what’s around them every day.
“Through our educational resources and pathways, we see students grow their knowledge and awareness of real-world topics like fire forensics, fire safety and thermal runaway, as well as the future safety careers that use STEM daily,” said Megan O’Keeffe, ULRI Xplorlabs senior education specialist. “Camp E.M.B.E.R.S. is an incredible example of how bringing safety phenomena into the classroom can help build a safer world and the career fields that support that world one student at a time.”
Campers say the classroom learnings and real-world training from Camp E.M.B.E.R.S. resonate. “The Xplorlabs interactive investigations helped me learn a lot about how fires start and the science behind them,” one camper said. Others noted this camp gave them greater insight into the firefighting field, saying, “Camp was so fun and educational at the same, I think want to be a firefighter now! I can do this,” and “After attending Camp E.M.B.E.R.S., I have a newfound respect for firefighters now.”
About South Fulton Fire Rescue Department
Covering 100 square miles, the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department is supported by nine fire stations, more than 225 sworn personnel and eight civilian support staff. The department provides fire investigations, fire inspections, fire suppression mitigation, fire prevention education, as well community emergency response training, emergency medical services, hazardous material response and technical rescue response. Learn more about the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department.
About UL Research Institutes
UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing public safety through scientific discovery. Since 1894, our research has advanced our mission toward a safer, more secure and sustainable future. Focused on global risks from fire mitigation and air quality to safe energy storage and digital privacy, we conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety data, and partner with experts to uncover and act on existing and emerging risks to human safety. Discover more at UL.org.
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