Hundreds of firefighters, both career and volunteer, gathered in Thunder Bay for a week-long training session organized by Emergency North Training (ENT) as part of their annual FireCon event. The training received support from Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, the Office of the Fire Marshal, the City of Thunder Bay Tourism Development Fund, and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
According to Thunder Bay Fire Chief and ENT president Dave Paxton, the Office of the Fire Marshal dispatched over 30 instructors to enhance the quality of the training courses offered during the event. Various certification-driven courses, ranging from five-day to three-day programs, were conducted, covering topics such as extracting passengers from vehicles, hazardous materials operations, and live fire attack techniques.
Among the offerings this year were two pilot courses led by the Ontario Fire College focusing on incident command and exterior attack strategies. Participants came from volunteer fire services in different regions, including Chapple, Kenora, Clearwater, Greenstone, Schreiber, and Fort Frances.
One of the attendees, Brent Harris, a volunteer firefighter from Dorion, Ontario, emphasized the importance of community service and the camaraderie within the fire service. Harris found the live fire attack course particularly intriguing, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to enhance his skills and readiness for emergencies.
The positive impact of FireCon was highlighted by Ontario Deputy Fire Marshal John McBeth, who emphasized the significant training opportunities the event provides for municipalities in the north. McBeth stressed the value of cross-community training, where participants not only learn alongside their colleagues but also engage with firefighters from other regions, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
