Weyburn Fire Services Ensures Proper Training for Firefighters

More training has recently resulted in NFPA 1001 Certifications for five Paid On-Call Firefighters with Weyburn Fire Services.

Last week, the City of Weyburn took to social media to congratulate Firefighters Jola Bell-Erb, Rob Jack, Kyle Doane, Jeremy Murray, and Byron Shangraw, on completing the practical requirement for their NFPA certification.

Fire Chief Simon Almond said they have been working with a few of the individuals for more than two years.

"One of them has totally completed [his training], because he'd done some things before [COVID], and the other four just have one more course to take and they'll become NFPA 1001 Certified Firefighters."

He said they introduce into this type of training to all new firefighters.

"As soon as they walk through the door, all of our Firefighters are trained to that standard, and that's how they achieve the end of their probationary status, by achieving that standard," explained Almond. 

"So, whatever age they walk through the doors when they start. We have some people in their 40s, we have some people in their 30s, and we have some people in their 20s," he noted. "One of these individuals that's just completed right now, she came to us and joined us as a junior firefighter, at 17 years old."

Read more about Jola Bell-Erb HERE.

Almond said these individuals are already Paid On-Call Firefighters working with Weyburn Fire Services.

"We do have them responding to calls, prior to them getting their certification," he explained. "However, what they can do for us is in a limited capacity, because they're not totally certified yet. But once they get certified, they're certified in all fire operations, from house materials, to auto extrication, to specialized rescue, to firefighting."

He said even if they're not fully trained, the best way to learn is 'on the job'.

"When we pick a crew to go out the door, we pick a crew for peoples' strengths and weaknesses," he shared. "We don't view them because they're not totally qualified as having weakness, however, if we're going to put them into a fire, we're going to put them with a more experienced, qualified person, so they're not on their own."

Almond said WFS us also currently recruiting new Firefighters to train.

"We're actively taking applications right now, and so if anybody is interested in joining us, they are more than welcome to come down to the Fire Hall. They can speak to myself, or they can speak to any firefighter here, and they'll give them the lowdown, the information. The application forms are available on the City of Weyburn website."

Find that HERE.