(Facebook/Melfort Fire and Rescue)

By Angie Rolheiser

Firefighter recruitement

Melfort Fire Department hosting new recruit information session

Nov 30, 2021 | 1:15 PM

A call for new recruits is being made by Melfort Fire and Rescue.

An information session on Wednesday night will go through what a recruit can expect over the next few weeks before they begin training.

Fire Chief Shaun Stewart told northeastNOW there is no set number of recruits they will take but are looking for five to eight new members.

“We will not just ‘fill boots’ to have members in place,” Stewart said. “We have a very dedicated core group right now and we want to hire people who will bring diverse backgrounds of knowledge and experience to the membership.”

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Stewart said new recruits must be willing to learn new skills and the hope is that they are going to stay with the department for longer than a year.

He added the information night is just the first step in the process. Following the Wednesday night session, candidates will be invited to a physical testing process at the fire hall on Dec. 11.

“Firefighting requires some physical strength and cardio endurance, the first 10 minutes on an emergency scene can be pretty chaotic and extremely fast-paced. The physical abilities test simulates these 10 minutes.”

Successful candidates will then be invited to an interview on Dec. 14 and 15, those selected as new recruits will be notified on Dec. 17.

The first training night will be Dec. 21 where manuals, turnout gear, other Personal Protective Equipment and homework will be handed out.

In-house training will take place every Tuesday night from Dec. 21 to Mar. 29, 2022.

“During the initial training sessions, we understand individuals have other jobs, work shift work, have families and other commitments and may have to miss an evening or two,” Stewart said. “However, this is the building of their firefighter foundation of knowledge, missing evenings can be detrimental in that learning process and building together as a team.”

Firefighters are trained by Chief officers, captains and senior firefighters who also have other commitments but have committed to the training process to be there for the recruits according to Stewart.

A graduation ceremony will be held in April, afterwards, graduates are probationary firefighters and can begin training with the regular members. Regular training takes place on Thursday evenings.

“Training never ends,” Stewart said. “There are always new techniques, new equipment and specialized training to take part in.”

The information session is open to anyone who has an interest in firefighting and rescue efforts, but Stewart said it may not be for everyone.

The Melfort Fire Department said a paid, on-call firefighter involves tireless hours of training, missing family time, birthdays, and special events, being woken at any given hour, during a blizzard, minus 25 before wind chill to help someone but it is also being part of an incredible emergency services team.

The team includes Fire along with RCMP, EMS, Tow services, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and ER staff.

“Each of us do our part and work with others to ensure the best service to the community that we can give,“ Stewart said. “It is one of the biggest families you can ever belong to and being there for your brothers and sisters in the emergency services team.”

Stewart, who started in the fire service in 1992, said he has loved every minute of it and would do it all over again.

The information session take place at the fire hall at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Members of the department must be over the age of 18 and live in the immediate Melfort area.

—

angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser