Volunteer firefighters get up close to learn about vehicle rescue Thursday morning. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

First Nations Fire Fighting School

Inaugural First Nations firefighting school kicks off

Jun 13, 2019 | 4:53 PM

Prince Albert is hosting volunteer firefighters from First Nations across Saskatchewan for the next few days.

Firefighters have come to town to take part in a two-day firefighting school put on by Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management (SFNEM), a provincial organization that coordinates with First Nations all over Saskatchewan to help provide emergency services.

Michelle Vandevord, manager of SFNEM, said providing training to First Nations departments is important due to the fact they are generally left on their own to deal with it. This is the first time anything like this has been offered.

“This is kind of our first annual fire school, we’re calling it and that’s what it is, just to bring everybody together to learn,” she said.

SFNEM is getting help putting on the school from the Prince Albert Fire Department along with Saskatchewan Emergency Management. Both provided staff and equipment. Muskoday First Nation also helped out by loaning the school its rescue unit.

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The two courses on offer at the firefighting school include one on how to deal with structural fires along with one involving vehicle rescue. There is no direct cost for departments to attend as SFNEM covers the costs. Vandevord said they are hoping to make the training school a regular happening as they got lots of interest.

“There were a lot of departments, First Nations departments who wanted to be here today, but we just didn’t have the funding,” she said.

Looking forward Vandevord said they are hoping to expand what they are able to offer firefighters who come out. Besides giving firefighters the chance to learn more, Vandevord added bringing together people from different communities could help them work together in the future.

“The more resources that a First Nation volunteer fire department has the better,” she said.

SFNEM will be capping everything off this weekend in the parking lot of the Northern Lights Casino with the 2019 Saskatchewan First Nation Firefighting Competition which will see over 100 firefighters compete with the winners having the chance to travel to Nova Scotia for national competition.

Firefighters gather around to learn about the tools used to rescue people trapped in vehicles (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn