A candidate trying out for the Prince Albert Fire Department climbs a 100-foot ladder during the physical test. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

The Next Batch

Prince Albert Fire Department completes annual recruitment

Oct 6, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The Prince Albert Fire Department has wrapped up their recruitment process for the 2020 year.

Over the past two days, the department split all recruits into two groups and put them through a morning written test, followed by a late morning swim to test endurance, and finished off with more physical testing at the fire hall.

During the physical test, candidates climbed a 100-foot ladder twice, hustled through six storeys of stairs with a 50-pound hose on their shoulder, pulled a 50-pound hose attached to a rope about 30 yards, and then dragged 150 pounds of weights. The candidates finished the test by carrying a 175-pound dummy to the best of their ability across a finish line.

An applicant to the PAFD completes his try out by dragging a 175-pound dummy across the finish line. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Luke Barker, a candidate from Calgary, Alta. was trying out for a full-time spot for the first time and was happy with how his day went.

Court proceedings

Crown stays sexual assault charge against Waskesiu business owner

3h ago

Elevate Your Self-Care Game With These Smart Lifestyle Moves

Nov 15, 2024

Riderville

Shades of 2007

Nov 15, 2024

“I made the seven-and-a-half-hour drive to try out for the fire department. I came in last night and stayed in a hotel,” Barker said. “I passed the water test and think I did pretty good on the written. I’m pretty happy with my overall performance right now.”

Out of 75 candidates, the lone female is Sarah Pack, from Airdrie, Alta. Pack is originally from Saskatoon and previously spent 11 years living in P.A.

“This is my first time trying out for the Prince Albert fire department. I have been training for this for about four and half years,” Pack said. “Today has been really awesome.”

Deputy Fire Chief of the PAFD Alex Paul said recruitment is open to anyone who meets the necessary requirements.

“We don’t have any particular demographic that we are going after. If a person goes to fire college and they apply, everyone has a fair chance of working at the Prince Albert Fire Department,” Paul told paNOW.

The deputy added every year between 70 to 80 people tryout for a job at the department. On average two to three of them will be female. Out of that group, the department will create a shortlist of about 10 candidates who fit the need.

The PAFD are always looking for local people to try out for a position and are hoping more youth will be interested after high school graduation, Kris Olsen, Fire Chief at PAFD said.

“We’re satisfied with the [local] numbers, but there could always be more,” Olsen said. “We see the need for more local applicants, and we try to do our part to get that message out.”

Rain started coming down in the early afternoon but candidates fought through while trying out for the PAFD. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Every staff member and candidate were required to wear a face mask through the duration of the testing except when swimming or completing the physical testing course.

—

Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8