South Alberta Fire Rescue Academy another win for PRPS

By James Tubb on October 4, 2023.

Quade VanderSpruit and Zion Raible are both enrolled in the first year of the South Alberta Fire Rescue Academy at Eagle Butte High School. NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON

The first year of the South Alberta Fire Rescue Academy is now in full swing. Students from Eagle Butte have been learning in the classroom while also receiving hands-on training at the Cypress County Fire Services Dunmore Station.

This year is a pilot project with Grade 11 students receiving six certificates and Grade 12s four. The students will receive the same certification a post-secondary institution would provide.

“Especially in a rural areas, we are trying to get new recruits, and maintaining volunteers is a struggle throughout Alberta. The sooner we get junior firefighters involved, the better for the community,” stated fire chief Jason Linton. “It’s a good partnership, they get to go to school, get credits and get certification as well.”

Eagle Butte vice principal Lyall Foran teaches the classroom part of the Fire Academy. Administration throughout Prairie Rose Public Schools can be seen still teaching in the classroom, allowing them to connect with students on a different level.

“You get to build that common ground and build a rapport with them,” said Foran.

This is Foran’s second year at Eagle Butte. Before that, he spent nine years teaching at Medicine Hat High School where he had the opportunity to create different programs. Having the background in creating class content and schedules, he was a good fit for putting together the program for the Fire Academy.

“There are two components to the class,” explained Foran. “One is the Career and Technological Studies program with outcomes based off Alberta Education, so that is how they are getting their high school credits. The second components are the fire modules to get certified as level 1 and level 2 firefighters.”

Cypress County delivers the fire modules online. The students also have a textbook and Foran’s focus is to deliver the Alberta Education credits so students not only get certified but also all the credits they need to graduate high school.

Grade 12 student Quade VanderSpruit enrolled because he wants to be a firefighter. He plans to return to Eagle Butte for an additional year to complete the program.

“Last week we were trying on all our bunker gear and getting on air, the SCBA’s (self-contained breathing apparatus) and then walking around and trying it out,” explained VanderSpruit. “It was good. Lots different than just breathing but it gets easier and easier.”

Zion Raible is in Grade 11 and thinks the academy is great because he can learn so much at a young age.

“I would love to be a firefighter. It’s been my dream since I was a little kid. I loved being outdoors and helping out.”

When he was younger, Raible would puncture a hole in a water bottle to use as a makeshift fire extinguisher for putting out campfires. Raible feels they have a strong group of students this first year who are making him a better person. The class also has workout sessions together at a fitness centre in the city to build up their strength.

Being the firehall has “been awesome, we’ve done so much stuff,” stated Raible. “Recently we put some air tanks on our backs and we got to breathe through masks. It was so cool.”