Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services recruits halfway through training
Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services' newest set of recruits are halfway through their training, preparing for their future careers.
They were out on the training grounds Thursday, learning some essential skills they'll need on the job.
"Right now, they're working on entanglements, because sometimes, unfortunately, they might get stuck in a situation where they're tangled up in wires, so they're learning how to address that problem," said the fire training officer Mark Matheson.
"In addition, sometimes if you get trapped in an upper story you might have to bail out of a window, so they're practicing what the procedures are with that."
The class is made up of nine recruits, some travelling from far away to learn.
"I came up from New Brunswick for the wildfires, working in Peace River, Alta., and that's when I noticed the posting here," said Mitch Cormier, one of the recruits.
"I heard a lot of great things about the department so I decided to apply and luck came my way and I got hired, so I’m glad to be here."
The recruits have only been working together the past five weeks, but say they've already built some incredible bonds with their classmates.
"It's been really cool," said another recruit, Tim Carroll.
"At work and outside of work, we're vibing and our lead instructor tells us every few days that people keep asking how our class is and he says it's a great class."
Lethbridge Fire and Emergency services say they've had to increase their recruiting efforts to help keep up with the demand they're seeing and help fill a void in staffing.
"The recruit program is very unique, since I've been here anyway, that we're running more than one recruit class, two a year usually is what we're hitting now." said Matheson.
"It's almost continuous recruiting and training to keep up with the demands."
Graduation for the recruits is set for later this year officials are already accepting applications for their next intake of recruits with training planned for the spring.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.
Robertson's hat-trick drives Stars to Game 3 win over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Israel close to approving Gaza reunification program before Rafah invasion: Miller
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Israel seemed to be on the verge of approving a program to get Palestinian relatives of Canadians out of the Gaza Strip before the country's invasion of the town of Rafah.