Cypress County volunteer firefighters were busy participating in three training exercises in Hilda, Dunmore and Elkwater last weekend.--SUPPLIED PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Volunteer firefighters from across Cypress County were involved in three different training exercises last weekend across the region to further their knowledge on fighting wildfires, providing medical life support and back trail search and rescue.
In Hilda a dozen firefighters took part in a portion of a 32-hour National Fire Protection Association course focused on wildfires. Cypress County started its ‘wildfire firefighting’ training program four years ago. During that time approximately 50 per cent of its members have completed the training.
County Fire Chief Jason Linton explains the program includes theory based learning that focuses on understanding weather and wind patterns.
“A lot of the course is actually theory based, deep diving into weather, forecasting weather,” explains Linton. “Then obviously topography and how different topography will burn. And then lastly is tactics to fight a wildlife fire.”
Medical emergencies and EMS support calls top the fire services list of calls they respond to each year. Often firefighters are the first on scene to an emergency, and those with medical training are able to provide life saving support until paramedics arrive.
This weekend nine members took part in a portion of an 80-hour advance First Aid program in Dunmore.
“Beside the hamlets around Medicine Hat, Cypress County firefighters are going to arrive on scene up to 40 minutes before EMS arrives,” says Linton.
“These courses are especially important for our rural firefighters to ensure that they can support EMS the best and provide the best patient care with critical skills until EMS gets there,” said Linton, who explains the advanced program goes “way above” the standard First Aid CPR course.
Ten members also spent their weekend in Elkwater to participate in training to get recertified in their all terrain vehicles that are used to support backcountry rescues.
“So any kind of ski hill, access, bike hills, anything through the park system.” Linton says, explaining firefighters have to be recertified every two years to use the UTV.
The weekend training courses are scheduled when most of the volunteer firefighters, many of whom are farmers and ranchers, are not busy with harvest. Linton says the bulk of training is completed during the winter months.
“We train all year around but we try to do more intense training in our winter months,” says Linton. “A fire or medical emergency in rural Alberta is no different than in Medicine Hat with a career fire department. The expectation for the service of delivery is the same, just that our firefighters are using their own time to support their own communities.
“Us as administration service with the county really appreciate the volunteers and what they do and how they give back to their communities. Really, they are the backbone of Cypress County.”
