F.I.R.E. Cadet Program – Class of 2017 Graduates
Today, 21 high school students will graduate from the Fire Introduction Recruitment Experience (FIRE) Cadet Program offered through a partnership with Saskatoon Fire, the Saskatoon Public Schools and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools.
The FIRE Cadet Program is part of the Career Education curriculum at Bedford Road Collegiate, Mount Royal Collegiate, Tommy Douglas Collegiate, E.D. Feehan Catholic High School and Bethlehem Catholic High School. Each graduating student demonstrated responsibility, respect, teamwork, community involvement, pride and leadership to ensure their personal success throughout the eight week program.
“We have seen phenomenal growth in the comradery and teamwork shown by the FIRE Cadets. The students came from different schools and different backgrounds but very quickly jelled as a group,” says Doug Wegren, a firefighter leading the program.“It was exciting to see the student’s transition from being individuals to working together to tackle multiple tasks and challenges.”
Throughout the eight week program students learned to operate fire hoses, hydrants, fire trucks and an aerial ladder. They gained technical rope, ladder, extrication, dangerous goods, firefighter self-rescue and water rescue skills. Cadets also completed the Red Cross CPR Level C training course and acquired valuable experience leading fire safety presentations.
Brandon Bishop with the Saskatoon Fire Department states, “The support we have received from our community has been instrumental in the success of our students and the FIRE Cadet Program. I want to especially acknowledge Don Flaman from Flaman Sales who provided us with a trailer for the program, and SGI who offered us cars so our students could practice their extrication skills.”
It is the hoped that this program will encourage a strong desire in the graduates to consider a future career path serving the community with the Saskatoon Fire Department.
Congratulations to each student who is graduating from the FIRE Cadet Program today.
Visit saskatoon.ca to learn more about the Saskatoon Fire Department.