Penticton, B.C. student participates in First Nations youth firefighter boot camp – Okanagan | 24CA News
It was two days of intense, however enjoyable, hearth coaching for twenty-four First Nations youth from Gathering Of Voices.
Participants realized beneficial firefighting expertise and data from Vancouver Fire Rescue on the First Nations’ Emergency Service Society (FNESS) Firefighter Youth Bootcamp final Thursday and Friday.
“It gives youth an opportunity to touch and feel and work with some of the areas of CPR, extinguisher training, the feel of the gear, the feel of the equipment, and then introduces them to an opportunity to maybe look at a career in this world of fire services,” stated FNESS government director Wayne Schnitzler on Thursday.
“A lot of these skills they are learning today not only contributes to a career but also contributes to their own home safety and as you know, a lot of indigenous youth are going to be a volunteer firefighter or do home safety programs within their own community.”
Maliki, of Penticton, was one of many many youth trainees that participated within the boot camp.
“First day was amazing. We got to get fitted out and we learned to get into our gear. I find this awesome; I’ve always admired firefighters,” stated Maliki on Friday.
“I’ve learned how firefighters set up their gear, and to quickly get in. Things that I would not have thought of before like having the boots and pads together. How the controls work for the bucket – this is really awesome.”
B.C.’s Southern Interior is not any stranger to wildfires. Last yr, the Keremeos Creek wildfire wreaked havoc close to Penticton burning over 7,000 hectares.
The boot camp teaches college students the significance of getting their communities ready for fires of any dimension.
“The discussions within the community on the importance of being prepared now is more important than anything that they can bring back,” stated Schnitzler.
“A lot of discussion on, just talking to peers, people from different communities, and sharing their knowledge because we may have students that are part of a volunteer fire department already that are sharing that success in their communities with other students who that may want to go back and do the same thing in their community.”
Maliki added that these expertise are particularly vital to him residing within the South Okanagan.
“I do like this, it’s very exciting, and enjoy this work. I am excited about it and this is important to know because I am from Penticton, the Okanagan Valley, and up there it is dry country and fire is quite the hazard,” stated Maliki.
Maliki has since returned house from the boot camp however with many new expertise that might lead him to a significant profession in firefighting.
“It was an awesome time; I learned many things and I got a certificate in hands-only CPR,” he stated.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
