RANKIN INLET - A group of 24 people from across Nunavut who want to contribute to their community began training in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Training officer Jim Fairbank said Nunavut firefighters take their training very seriously. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The group members are in Rankin for a Level 1 volunteer firefighting course.

The 10-day program runs from July 27 until Aug. 5, and is being administered by training officer Jim Fairbank of Saskatchewan's RKI Consulting firm.

Fairbank, originally from British Columbia, conducts fire training, investigations and inspections across Canada, and has been involved with the fire service for more than 36 years.

The training officer worked for Nunavut's Office of the Fire Marshal for six months in 2006 and has been to the territory numerous times since, usually spending two or three months per year in Nunavut.

He said he jumps at every opportunity he gets to come to the North.

"Level 1 is the meat and potatoes of firefighting," said Fairbank.

"The students cover fire behaviour, personal protective clothing, ropes and knots, handling hose lines and doing hose loads.

"There's a multitude of topics they cover during the Level 1 portion, which is the crux of firefighting and the toughest part of training.

"It gets a little bit more into the officer part of the program at Level 2, with things like public education and fire investigations."

Fairbank said the Kivalliq climate doesn't force him to change his approach to training when he comes to Rankin.

He said Saskatchewan has the same type of winter, just for a much shorter length of time.

"I have no trouble adapting up here because we get -40 C to -50 C temperatures in Saskatchewan, and have to learn how to fight fires in really cold weather too.

"Nunavut firefighters get the same type of training as southern firefighters."

Fairbank said he rarely runs into problems due to the course being delivered in English and added Nunavut firefighters readily adapt to the training.

"One thing I learned very quickly here is to take a bit more time and explain some of the fire technology better.

"Some terminology that comes with firefighting does not translate easily, so you have to break it down and explain it to everyone carefully.

"Instructors who come here have to learn we're not simplifying the course, but we do have to take more time to explain things we might take for granted guys in the south understand."

Fairbank said the people in Nunavut are great to work with.

He said one reason he loves to go to Nunavut is that so many people are friendly and easy to get along with.

"Nunavut is my favourite place to go and the people in the programs take their training very seriously.

"They take a lot of pride in learning something that allows them to be such a big help in their community."

We welcome your opinions. Click to e-mail a letter to the editor.