Local politicians, the media and the public may have the opportunity to experience a day in the life of our Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services personnel in 2012.

In late September, Clay Murrell and Gregory Green, of the Cranbrook Firefighters Local 1253 took in aJim Wavrecan educational course in Vancouver, designed to educate community decision makers about every day experiences of firefighters, by having them participate in a number of scenarios.

The intent is that a similar Fire Ops 101 program can be and will be provided in Cranbrook next year, based on the Vancouver Fire Ops program.

Councillor Jim Wavrecan participated on behalf of the City of Cranbrook, while in Vancouver attending the Union of BC Municipalities convention. All participants, including Wavrecan, participated in six scenarios including: extinguishing a car fire, using the jaws-of-life in a vehicle extrication exercise, providing CPR, undertaking a burning building rescue scenario, a confined space exercise and spraying a fully charge hose to extinguish a tanker fire simulation.

“All participants were led by a Vancouver firefighter in the scenarios,” said Clay Murrell. “We assisted Mr. Wavrecan’s team, harnessing them with SCBA, showing them proper use of equipment, safe tactics and knowledge throughout the day.”

The participants had to have a doctors certificate to allow them to participate as well as vitals (blood pressure, pulse, respirations) taken before, during and after event to make as safe as possible for all involved.

“The rain soaked day showed them the physical and mental challenges of what a fire fighter faces every day,” Murrell noted. “It showed that firefighters face these challenges in rain, heat, wind, freezing temperatures, or combination of any of these elements at any time day or night. It is our hope that we can provide a similar event here in Cranbrook to help educate our politicians and the public next year.”

Chris Zettel, City of Cranbrook

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