The Chinook Winds Fire Hall hosted a unique and crucial training course this week, organized by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Master Instructor with the IAFF and Captain with Toronto Fire Services Geoff Boisseau said firefighters from across Alberta and the United States came to Airdrie for training on ground survival.

"Fire Ground Survival is a course that encompasses basically how to protect yourself, how to save yourself on a fire ground. Everything from prevention to skill sets that will get you out of a dynamic fire situation."

Boisseau said the course was implemented in the wake of firefighters who died in the line of duty during fire ground incidents.

Crews came from Alberta jurisdictions including Airdrie and Grand Prairie, and also from places like Buffalo, New York and Prince George's County, Maryland.  

Local firefighter Matt Elgie said the training exercises were mostly new to his crew.

"We've done some mayday training and some self-survival training internally but the way that this program is put together with the learnings from past firefighter fatalities, it really does a good job of bringing home all the points of what is key, what is critical and how to control yourself in a situation that you never really want to imagine yourself in."

When it comes to the pivotal parts of the training course and what it means for those in the line of duty, Elgie said it was a huge benefit to have the local fire department host this course.

"The local guys were all really excited, the duty crews that are coming through and seeing minutes of the course at a time as they're walking in and out and responding to calls themselves are very excited to see this program rolled out for the entire department. Everybody just wants to go home safely at the end of the day, everyone wants to be able to retire at the end of their career and if we don't work from the mistakes of those that have gone before us then we won't have that opportunity. "

The course was a four day training session which wraps up in Calgary tomorrow (February 15th).

 

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