RANKIN INLET - A total of 20 fire officers from across Nunavut were in Rankin Inlet for 10 days of training this past month.

The program focused on the challenges faced by a volunteer fire service, as well as the responsibilities of a fire officer.

Fire-service instructor Michael Wood: considers volunteer firefighters among the bravest people in Canada. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The course was facilitated by Michael Wood, a fire-service instructor for the Fire Etc. Emergency Training Centre in Vermilion, Alta., (formerly known as the Alberta Fire Training School).

The centre has done a number of training contracts for Nunavut's Fire Marshal's Office and Municipal Training Organization during the past three years.

Wood said he's the fourth instructor from the Vermilion centre to facilitate a training program in Nunavut.

He said the program encourages fire officers to examine the level of service they provide, starting with looking internally at what equipment their department has and what's expected of its members.

"We then expect them to return to their home communities and work with their SAOs and hamlet councils to make sure they're all on the same page as to what services their department will provide, such as basic firefighting, water and ice rescue, airport fires, etc.," said Wood.

"Most provinces have changed their Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure it includes volunteer municipal departments.

"So, there's a new focus on what services are delivered and if they can be provided in a safe manner.

"The goal is to make sure our firefighters are safe, yet still able to protect the communities they serve."

Wood said he was very happy with the performance of the Nunavut fire chiefs, deputy chiefs and captains who participated in the training program.

He said the program helped the officers to better understand the challenges they face in running an effective department.

"The participants took part in a number of practical tabletop exercises, as well as simulated fire-attack situations in the community that focused on what's expected of a fire officer at the scene.

"They all seemed to appreciate the fact the exercises were tailored to the specifics of firefighting in the Arctic."

Wood has been an instructor for the past four years after spending 12 years with the Lac La Biche department in Alberta, the final seven as fire chief.

He said while firefighters spend a lot of time practising firefighting, they have to start looking at the bigger picture in their communities.

"We spent a portion of the program on dangerous-goods spills so they could get a feel for some of the situations they may run into and the type of equipment they would need to deal with a hazardous spill or any other dangerous-goods incident.

"It's the same for issues at an airport incident; ascertaining what the role of a municipal force would be and all the issues that go with that, such as proper training and equipment.

"By covering these topics, when the men return to their communities, they have a better idea of what's involved in a specific situation."

Wood said volunteer firefighters are a special group of people who he considers to be the bravest in the country.

He said the people in the Rankin program conducted themselves to that high standard.

"The Nunavut Fire Marshal's Office showed itself to be quite proactive by scheduling this type of training.

"While Nunavut has a firefighting training plan, it's imperative for SAOs, councils and various levels of the territorial government to be involved for the territory's firefighting program to take the next step forward in its development.

"I was impressed with what I saw in Rankin, both with the course participants and the performance and co-operation I received from Nunavut deputy fire marshal Robert Prima, assistant fire marshal Al Smith and Rankin Fire Chief Alan Stebbing.

"Nunavut's firefighting program continues to improve and is, definitely, moving in the right direction."