A group of new firefighters is putting their training to the test just days after graduating from Suncrest College.
Eighteen students completed the 20-week Professional Firefighter Qualification program at the Saskatchewan Emergency Response Institute on Aug. 1. The program, offered in partnership with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), trains students in live fire scenarios, hazardous materials response and technical rescue.
Following graduation, participants also completed a one-week Emergency Medical Responder course to further prepare them for frontline duties.
Eight of the graduates were hired immediately by the SPSA and deployed to communities across northern Saskatchewan, including Big River, Buffalo Narrows, Dorintosh, Lower Fishing Lake and Weyakwin, where crews continue to battle an active wildfire season.
Kami DePape, Suncrest College vice-president of partnerships and innovation, said the quick transition from classroom to frontline demonstrates the strength of the program and the dedication of the students.
“We are incredibly proud to see our graduates putting their skills to work so quickly, especially in service of our province during a time of urgent need,” DePape said. “This speaks volumes about their dedication, the quality of their training, and the strong partnership between Suncrest College and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.”
Bryan Chartrand, SPSA’s executive director of land operations, echoed the praise.
“These graduates have demonstrated the skill, resilience and teamwork it takes to meet the demands of firefighting,” he said. “As they step into their new operational roles, we are confident that the high standard of training provided at SERI will have prepared them well for the responsibilities they have ahead of them.”
The Professional Firefighter Qualification program, the only one of its kind in Saskatchewan, provides graduates with nationally recognized credentials that open opportunities for municipal, industrial and wildland firefighting across Canada.
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