Applications are now open for grade 11 and 12 students in Coquitlam to learn what it takes to be a firefighter.
The deadline is Friday, Dec. 8, for high school students to be part of the spring break training session.
Running from March 15 to 22, 2024, in partnership with School District 43 (SD43), the Junior Firefighter Program see teens take part in hands-on activities and exercises with smoke-eaters.
But, to qualify, candidates have to meet certain criteria, including participating in an interview and fitness test.
“Training for the junior program is a condensed version of the eight-week firefighter basic training program,” said Scott Young, Coquitlam Fire/Rescue’s deputy fire chief, in a news release.
“It includes vehicle and equipment familiarization, fire extinguishers, aerial ladder experience, basic first aid as well as CPR, hose and nozzle drills, high angle equipment and rappelling, auto extrication exercises, fire ground drills and a public service component at the city’s modern training facilities at Town Centre Firehall.”
A total of 58 youth have completed the Junior Firefighter Program since 2019.
The aim of the initiative is for youth to gain an understanding of firefighting work and for the department to potentially recruit new firefighters.
A dozen students will be in the 2024 program.
For more details about the Junior Firefighter Program, fill out the SD43 application form.
