Image: Jon Van Huigenbos / Chilliwack firefighters participate in a car fire training exercise by using a metal saw to get under the hood. Twenty firefighters in the Chilliwack Recruit Training Program will graduate tonight, Wednesday, March 29 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre and then be assigned to one of five Chilliwack fire halls starting Monday, April 3, according to Chilliwack Fire Chief Ian Josephson.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Fire Department

Dedicated Chilliwack firefighter recruits to graduate Wednesday

Mar 29, 2023 | 8:18 AM

CHILLIWACK — Over the past six months, a group of diehard, dedicated firefighters enrolled in the Chilliwack Fire Department’s Recruit Training Program have been put to the test on multiple occasions.

After 300-plus hours in the recruit program, including Wednesday evening training, Saturday sessions, additional days and online courses, what began in October 2022 culminated last weekend with a two-day live burn exercise on Friday and Saturday, March 25-26.

Image: Jon Van Huigenbos / Firefighters enrolled in the Chilliwack Fire Department’s Recruit Training Program participated in a car fire training exercise earlier this year.

These 20 recruit firefighters will now reap the fruits of their labour when they graduate Wednesday night (Mar. 29) from the program at a ceremony at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre and be paid on-call firefighters.

“Firefighters often sacrifice their own family time to train and respond to help people in our City in their time of greatest need and are very much appreciated for this service,” Chilliwack Fire Chief Ian Josephson said in an emailed statement to Fraser Valley Today. “Since 1906, firefighters have proudly served our community and provide a valuable service to our department and City.”

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After their graduation Wednesday night, the paid on-call recruits will report to their practice at their respective halls on Monday, April 3, Chief Josephson said. Of the 20 recruits:

• 2 firefighters to Firehall 1 (Downtown)
• 3 firefighters to Firehall 2 (Rosedale)
• 2 firefighters to Firehall 3 (Yarrow)
• 11 firefighters to Firehall 4 (Sardis)
• 2 firefighters to Firehall 6 (Greendale)

On an annual basis, the City of Chilliwack takes on about this number of new POC (paid on-call) firefighters. This is the latest class to complete and finish the rigorous recruit training.

The newest firefighter training and education is based on the B.C. Structure Firefighter Minimum Training Standards as outlined by the Office of the Fire Commissioner, Chief Josephson said. After completing the required training, firefighters will have met all the stringent requirements for “Interior Operations Level,” which means they have all the skills and competencies to conduct fire suppression activities within structures.

“As stated above, they have trained together for approximately 300 hours over the past six months and the friendships and comradery they have experienced will last a life time,” Chief Josephson said. “This is an exciting time for the graduates and their families. We are very proud of our new firefighters’ success!”