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Originally Posted by Palster
I'm a full time firefighter/training officer for the city of Kelowna. Actually I strictly train existing members of my department as well as new recruit firefighters. When I get called out to fires, rescues and haz-mat incidents now it is as a safety officer and not as a firefighter.
I completed my Fire Officer I course last year. Good luck with yours and make sure you study! It's not that hard but you do have to be prepared.
I know what you mean about loving your job. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Some days I can't believe they are actually paying me for rappelling from the side of a building or taking new recruit firefighters into a burn building or flash over simulator.
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How long have you been with Kelowna FD? I've just finished 18 years here in Calgary and had 8 years as a volunteer prior to that.
I've done several courses towards my NFPA 1021 certificate over the past year. The exam I have up coming is the departments promotional exam. Makes me eligible for promotion when I pass it. I should have my 1021 finished by the end of the year, and will start acting as a Lt. fairly soon.
The flashover simulator is a very cool training tool. We use one here too. It is a wee bit warm in there. Our training division now has special heat reflective covers for some of the gear when we use it. Melted a lot of helmets and SCBA parts in the past. Better to learn about the dangers in that environment than for real. Not too many get to live to tell about seeing that in actual fire conditions.