The Manitoba government is investing in a new mobile training trailer that will allow more than 5,000 firefighters across the province access to year-round fire rescue training, supporting municipalities and improving access to fire and rescue training closer to home.
Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard says, “This is important new training infrastructure that will ensure Manitoba firefighters have greater access to the skills and resources they need to protect themselves, their fellow firefighters and the public. Investing in firefighter training is an investment in the safety and resilience of our communities and an important part of our commitment to working with municipalities.”
The new trailer is being purchased to invest in firefighter safety, noted the minister. Manitoba does not currently have a training trailer in the province and when needed, it borrows one from the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association.
“The investment in fire protection with this trailer and commitment to the safety of Manitoba firefighters goes a long way to ensure firefighters throughout the province are better equipped to handle dangerous situations they may encounter,” said Kelvin Toews, president, Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs. “It is a vital step in safeguarding the well-being of those who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting others.”
In Canada, only British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario have fire rescue training trailers, and Manitoba’s use of the Ontario trailer is based on availability. These trailers are popular and are in regular use by fire departments as they provide a means to train locally.
Manitoba firefighters will now be able to facilitate more training for critical emergency scenarios such as disentanglement, low-profile operations and upper-floor rescues.
This investment will also support access to new training offered by the International Association of Fire Fighters called the Fire Ground Survival program, which ensures firefighters have the skills for emergency situations like becoming lost, disoriented, injured or trapped, added the minister. The training is conducted with a specially equipped mobile trailer that simulates various emergency scenarios. In partnership with the Office of the Fire Commissioner, this new investment will be made available to all members across the province to ensure the Manitoba Fire Service benefits from this critical training, said Simard.
