WILKIE — Did you ever think you had what it takes to be a firefighter, or dream of being one?
Some residents and students in Wilkie had the opportunity to show off their muscles and firefighting skills this past week. The Wilkie & District Fire Department was excited to borrow one of the public education trailers owned by the Kindersley Fire Department, filled with some of the special training equipment many career and volunteer firefighters use during training.
Set up as an obstacle course, those who were up for the challenge had to haul wrapped hoses, pull a tire backwards to simulate rescuing someone, move a heavy weight by using a sledgehammer, before moving a fully pressurized hose closer to the plywood house cutout, with hinged windows painted to look like it was on fire. The challenges were available to residents at an open house on May 24, while students at McLurg and Norman Carter schools had their opportunity on May 25 and 26.
“The department enjoys working in the community and with the students, getting the word out about volunteering. It’s at events like this that we see who is interested in the fire department, even the Grade 10 students, and get them started on some training,” said Fire Chief Randy Elder.
