More than 70 fire fighters from the Dryden area were able to get live fire training through the Ontario Fire College’s mobile training unit.
Dryden Fire Chief Chris Wood calls it a unique and beneficial training opportunity.
“We bring the training to our backdoor, and it allows us to train on so many different skills right in our own backyard, and bring everybody relatively close to our department so they can come and train right here at home.”
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- Fire Chief Chris Wood goes over the scenario fire fighters are set to face in the mobile training unit. (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting
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- Several fire teams from the area participated in training in Dryden, including Machin, Oxdrift and Ignace. (Adam Riley/Acadia Broadcasting)
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- Training scenarios included breaking off locks to gain entry. (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
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- The training unit also offers scenarios which include second story structures (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
Dozens of scenarios were played out involving blocked doorways, narrow hallways, smoke and fire.
The week of training marked the first time the unit made a stop in the city, and came after making a stop for training in Kenora.
The goal is to have it return again, but as Wood explains, that is another challenge altogether.
“The request is on the College to create another unit. There is two of them in the province and they’re obviously quite busy with operators and moving them around the province, with so many, with over 400 fire departments. But we’ll definitely put the request in each year to try and have it in Dryden, and be more than happy to continue to host for the district.”
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- Live fire training unit in action. (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
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- Smoke billows from a simulated fire which helps prepare fire fighters for situations they may face on calls (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
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- This opportunity marked the first time many with the Dryden Fire Service were able to use the mobile training unit, which brought smiles under the mask to many. (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
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- Fire fighters rest and debrief after one of the training sessions (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
Fire fighters open up a window as they practice inside the Ontario Fire College’s mobile training unit in Dryden on August 29th, 2023 (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)
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