More than 80 firefighters and rescue workers from across Western Canada gathered in Nisku to gain valuable rescue experience.
The group—comprised of 17 different fire departments—received training in rescue situations involving big rigs, becoming more comfortable with stabilization and extraction techinques.
“It’s very challenging. There are many emotions you go through,” said Leduc County Fire Chief, Darrell Fleming. “You have the anxiety, you have the intimidation…how do we approach that?”
For the past 8 years, the exercises at Big Rig Hands On Training Symposium (HOTS) have provided invaluable experience for the individuals responsible for saving lives on the road. The program is the only one in Canada.
Firefighters from the Whitecourt Fire Department told CTV Edmonton the training is particularly valuable in Alberta. Highways have a lot of big rig traffic, but crashes that involve rescues are not as common.
“We have a lot of tractor trailer units going through town, so a lot of these scenarios could happen. It’s good to have the training to bring back to the department,” said Denis Beaudoin.
“You never get comfortable with this,” said Malcolm Sichkaryk, a Bon Accord firefighter. “It’s one of those things where you just don’t do it enough, and if you don’t use it, you lose it.”
The skills learned in Nisku will be shared with fire halls across the country.
With files from Jeremy Thompson
