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KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
Fifteen firefighters from the Kivalliq and Baffin regions passed their Level 2 training in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Larry Kadloo and Pablo Kappi, right, attack a car fire during Level 2 firefighter training in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Course instructor Jim Fairbank of Melville, Sask., said Level 2 extends many skills the firefighters learned in Level 1.

He said the program also includes higher skills such as fire investigation, pre-fire-building planning and fire inspections, as well as advanced practical skills such as conducting water-flow tests.

"We'd like to see a year between the levels, but we don't restrict it," said Fairbank.

"The fire school at Vermilion, Alta., where I work part time, does it bang, bang, bang in 12 weeks.

"You have the 1001 standard once you complete Level 2, which is a professional firefighter's qualification.

"There's lots of areas to go after that, such as 1002 pump operations, 1021 officer standard, 1031 fire inspections and 1033 fire investigations, so there's years of training available if they want it."

Fairbank has been instructing Nunavut firefighters since 2006.

He said he's still impressed with the level of commitment he sees from the firefighters in his programs.

"Training remains a constant here because of the turnover so many hamlets have in their fire departments.

"Attendance for the complete program has become steadily better over the years.

"In this Level 2 course, we didn't have anyone miss any time at all except for one person who missed a day because his plane didn't get in.

"The course has both practical and classroom components, and participants write two exams, one in the middle of the program and one at the end, and I'm happy to say every firefighter in this program passed their Level 2."

Fairbanks taught an air brakes course in Rankin just before the Level 2 program.

He said he hopes to be back in Nunavut a few more times before the end of this fiscal year in April of 2013.

"Nunavut Fire Marshal Robert Prima and I hope to plan out training for the rest of the year soon.

"There's a possibility we may offer a fire-inspector and a fire-investigator course in the near future."

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