For two full-packed days, 21 First Nation secondary school students learned about firefighting at the Williams Lake fire hall.
Coordinated by the First Nations Emergency Services Society, the course was taught by FNESS and members of the Williams Lake Fire Department (WLFD) on Oct. 16 and 17.
“It was a very, very fun experience and I wouldn’t mind doing this as a job, but you would have to have a lot of commitment for that,” said Dreydon David, a Grade 12 student at Lake City Secondary School, at the end of the second day.
Dreydon said his favourite part of the course was climbing up to the top of the ladder on the fire truck.
“it was very high up,” he said.
Loghan Archie, a Grade 10 student who is homeschooling and lives in Kamloops, said she found the course “really educational.”
“I enjoyed all the learning opportunity the Williams Lake Fire Department and FNESS gave us.”
Loghan said it was great to get some live practice and to explore firefighting as something they might want to pursue.
First Nations support worker Bonnie Pinchbeck, cold from standing outside on a chilly day, had nothing but warmth to offer about her students.
“I am so proud of them,” she said. “They all worked together and they all gave it 100 per cent, every one of them. They were so respectful and were all listening.”
When asked if they had a decent time by Dan Heaton of FNESS, the students responded in unison that they had learned “lots.”
The only thing missing was getting to ride in a fire truck, someone said.
Kelvin Parent, career opportunity coordinator with School District 27, said the majority of the students were from LCSS and one was from Esk’et.
“They learned bits and pieces to do with structural firefighting and worked with a live fire with pylons,” he said. “They learned CPR and fire extinguisher safety.”
The students each had to draw floor plans of their homes and take a smoke alarm home with them.
Parent said on the first day they learned about hoses and the art of getting in and out of firefighting gear in one minute or less.
“They learned what it is like to wear BA (breathing apparatus) on their backs to get an idea of the weight and the alarm systems.”
Learning auto extrication - helping someone out of a vehicle in an emergency - was also part of the course.
“It was full-packed days,” he said.
WLFD chief Evan Dean said the department’s members who participated had taken time off work and volunteered their time.
“Thanks so much for coming,” Dean said during the closing of the course. “It was the first time we’ve done this.”
Williams Lake First Nation elder Edith Wycotte gave an opening prayer before the course started and was there to give a closing prayer as well.
“I am so glad you were here to learn to save our communities,” she told the students.
