Rankin Inlet (July 14/04) - Firefighters from across the Kivalliq region began live fire training exercises in Rankin Inlet this week. The intensive 80-hour program runs from July 12-23.

Assistant deputy fire marshal Robert Tremblay checks out the barrels that will house the flames for the new live fire training facility in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Deputy fire marshal Tim Hinds said three positions were offered to each of the six hamlets outside of Rankin.

As of press time, the hamlets of Baker Lake, Repulse Bay and Arviat were sending three firefighters, while Coral Harbour was sending two and Chesterfield Inlet one.

Whale Cove did not have any volunteer firefighters available for the training.

The course will be conducted by Nunavut fire-training specialist Donald Corbett of Iqaluit, assistant fire marshal Robert Tremblay of Cambridge Bay, and James Bulger, a training officer with Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services in southern Ontario.

"We're hoping to have 20 to 25 students take the course, so any available positions after the out-of-town guys arrive will be taken by Rankin Inlet volunteer firefighters," said Hinds.

"The course will cover 18 different firefighting issues, as well as two days of first aid and CPR training for those who require it."

Developing facilities

The Level 1 firefighting course is a joint venture of the Municipal Training Organization and the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM).

Training is being provided at a live-fire facility built near the Rankin dump.

The facility features a building equipped with dry ice machines for smoke training, as well as a "complex" constructed of sea cans donated by Umingmak Building Supplies and the Arctic Co-operative Ltd.

Hinds said firefighters are receiving both classroom and skill-based instruction.

The Rankin project is the second 80-hour program to run in Nunavut. A pilot course was held in Iqaluit earlier this year.

Hinds said the OFM wants a third regional training facility constructed in Cambridge Bay before the end of 2004.

"We want at least one facility in each region, but, if we have the available space and sea cans to develop this type of burn design in other communities, we will.

"This program provides our guys with valuable training on fighting vehicular, residential, industrial and mercantile-based fires."