Receiving specialized training is now easier than ever for existing firefighters in the area.
A new firefighter training centre popped up in Chapple about a month ago and district firefighters no longer have to travel across the province to take much needed training courses.
“The biggest part of the project when we were first proposing it was bringing firefighter training to the area,” explained Chapple, Emo, La Vallee, and Alberton fire chief, Josh Colling.
“It was also about making sure our personnel are trained properly and they get the quality of training required to make sure they get home safely to their families.”
The main building for the training centre is located on 3652 Hwy. 71 and several different buildings are being utilized around the municipality to hold courses as well.
“This opens up an opportunity for external services to get training in a more successful, affordable, and attainable way,” noted Colling.
“Previously firefighters would have had to travel to Gravenhurst to get this level of training,” he added.
“In our part of northern Ontario this is the first place to do this.”
The centre was built in part, to combat training challenges faced by local firefighters.
“One of the biggest challenges is accessibility, for a firefighter to go away and get trained they have to take time off, that’s vacation time they’re giving up from their families or they’re just taking work time off at their expense,” Colling explained.
“Most of our courses have been designed on a weekend model, so for instance, Firefighter 1001 takes place over seven months but it’s ran just on weekends so it’s very accommodating and it gives options for firefighters to take the stream that works for them.”
The centre was made possible through a partnership with the Ontario Fire College, where they cover instructor fees for the first several years.
“We’re actually running a really good system to keep our costs as low as we can but they are lower right now in particular for sure, significantly, because those instructor costs are completely covered,” Colling said.
Costs to build life fire structures at the training centre were paid for by Chapple but partners such as New Gold are helping to offset costs by supplying pallets and burnables for training exercises.
“The costs that was initially incurred by Chapple will be recouped and expansion plans for the site will expand from the funds for the courses, so it’s really a cost neutral project,” Colling explained.
An evaluation will take place at the training centre each year to determine if the cost model is sustainable to ensure there’s no significant financial burden to the town.
“I think we’re going to have some excellent success,” Colling enthused. “We actually have a few courses that are already nearing full and it has only been open to registration for a few weeks.”
There’s a variety of courses offered at the training centre and what’s available is set to expand over time.
“We’re offering all National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certification courses, so they do meet the industry standard.”
In January one of the courses that will be offered is NFPA 1001 which is the standard for professional firefighting qualifications.
“Essentially what that program does, is it trains firefighters in base general competencies of every skill they need to perform the duties of a structural firefighter.”
The regional training centre also offers supervisory level training, hazmat courses, fire code prevention/education, and modern firefighting.
“You name it and we’ll be offering it,” Colling quipped.
Going forward the training centre will undergo expansion projects over the next couple of years.
There will be an open house held for the public in the spring, once the weather’s nicer, Colling noted.
Any firefighter looking to expand their skill sets can register for courses by emailing Colling at acelfirechief@gmail.com or calling 271-4230.
