New Fire & Emergency Services recruits go through the ringer during live training exercises

John Hunchak, one of the new recruits, says there’s a couple difference dealing with regular fires compared to one stemming from flammable liquids.

“It kind of differs in that our main purpose with other fires is just putting out the fire itself and dealing with the ignition source and going from there. With a flammable liquid fire, we’re always worried about the tank getting too hot. While we’re dealing with the ignition source we also have to cool the tank at the same time, so there are two facets to it.”

A release states this kind of event trains the firefighters in the safest and most effective way to deal with a fire involving flammable liquids.

“Specifically, we were simulating if a tank in an industrial setting was to have a leak, and that was to contact an ignition source resulting in a fire, kind of how we would approach that and deal with it.”

Many professions take continuous training to develop skills and make sure those skills stay sharp, but it’s a little different where the job involves saving lives and your life on the line.

Another one of those recruits, Jason Demoskoff, explained why he joined.

“I’ve been a paramedic for a while now, and I really wanted to come to Lethbridge due to the integrated service. I feel that fire and EMS work well together, and this way we have a better covering of the whole emergency situation,” Demoskoff said.

The course focuses on both firefighting and emergency services training over a 12-week period.

Demoskoff says for the last 10 weeks they’ve been doing primarily the fire training.

“It’s pretty intensive, very physical for the most part with a fairly heavy didactic portion in the classroom, as well. It’s been a lot more to it than I was expecting, for sure,” Demoskoff added.

That’s a sentiment shared by Hunchak, but he acknowledges that there’s a lot they have to know and a lot we have to be familiar with in order to effectively deal with fires.

“In order to do our jobs properly,” he continued. “It’s kind of a career where you’re always learning and there’s a lot I’m looking forward to.”

Hunchak is also a paramedic as well as a firefighter and says this is a career he’s always been interested in.

“It’s a physical career so it kept me in shape, and I always wanted to serve my community and be in a role like this.”

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter) with files from Lara Fominoff (@LaraFominoff on Twitter)

New Fire & Emergency Services recruits go through the ringer during live training exercises

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