Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

Tuktoyaktuk (Mar 20/00) - When he was 10, a broken string of lights on the holiday tree wiped away Stanley Felix's Christmas and home.

"We'd just moved into a new home. The lights melted the tree and started a fire. So we lost everything."

Twenty-five years later, Felix is determined to save others from the threat of fire.

He and eight other volunteer firefighters from Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik are taking professional-level training. Over the next several months, they will learn the science of fire, how to fight it and how to rescue people trapped in a burning building.

Tuktoyaktuk fire Chief David Anderson said the firefighters all passed their level one course of the Alberta Firefighters Association training two weeks ago.

"This is the first step toward getting their professional firefighter qualifications, recognized internationally," he said.

Anderson and Aklavik firefighter Julie Miller taught the course after taking an instructor's course in Yellowknife. An Alberta teacher also helped.

"Now we're passing on our skills to our guys in the community," Anderson said.

The firefighters learned search and rescue techniques, the use of knots and ropes, searching in smoky, hazardous conditions, and how to use the breathing equipment.

"They were looking for dummies in smoke-filled environments, doing searches and carrying them out," he said.

The volunteers also spent time in the classroom, learning fire behaviour.

Felix said the course, even the classroom work, was an exciting experience.

"I found it exciting because I know the person next to me will do their best to keep me safe and I'll do my best to keep them safe," he said.

The course built trust and confidence between firefighters, Felix said, as well as confidence in himself.

"The best thing about the course is that I passed my written test," he said with a laugh. "I took it 15 years ago and I failed."

Firefighter Frank Whitbread said the course will help next time there's a fire in Aklavik.

"I took it to help my community," he said. "I've seen a couple of fires and they were pretty bad."

The level one training cost about $12,000, Anderson said. The money was provided by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Anderson said the training is invaluable for safety in Tuktoyaktuk.

"This is a big step forward for the fire department here," he said. "For a long time we were not able to take this course."

Felix said he hopes his new skills will help save other people's homes and lives.

"I don't want that to happen to anyone else," he said. "I want to help my community."

Level two will begin some time next month, and will involve some travel.

The Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik volunteers will visit Inuvik for the fire hydrant section.

"We don't have any here," Anderson said, laughing.