Sarnia Fire Rescue Service crews will wrap up live fire training at the TransAlta site on Vidal Steet on Friday.
They've spent the week sharpening their skills with one of the Ontario Fire College's Mobile Live Fire Training Units to ensure they're ready to respond when emergency strikes.
Chief Jeff Weber said live fire training is always advantageous.
"It provides more real-world experiences for fire fighting staff so they can continue to deliver the critical life-saving skills our residents rely on in emergencies,” said Weber. "In addition to that training, working with TransAlta has been a fantastic demonstration of the ongoing cooperation between our service and local industry, their support has been a tremendous asset in moving forward training opportunities such as these."
The unit simulates realistic fire ground conditions, including real fire, heat, humidity, low visibility, and theatrical smoke.
The elements create a controlled, yet challenging, environment that closely mirrors conditions firefighters face on scene in real emergencies.
Firefighters are able to build critical skills in fire suppression, search and rescue, communications, and situational awareness.
TransAlta Safety and Emergency Response Coordinator Justin Hagan said it’s important to get to know your friends before you need them.
"Building strong relationships with local emergency services and supporting community training like this reflects the TransAlta way, being proactive, collaborative, and giving back to the community we’re proud to be part of," Hagan said. "Participating in initiatives like this aligns perfectly with our corporate values, Sarnia BASES Mutual Aid partnership, and our ongoing commitment to safety, teamwork, and community collaboration."
All four shifts of Sarnia Fire Rescue staff have participated in the training that started on November 11.
