SD73 students train with BC Wildfire Service firefighters for Junior Fire Crew workshop

KAMLOOPS — Fighting wildfires is a tough, physically demanding job. Long days, little sleep and few comforts await those who choose to battle blazes that ignite in the vast tracts of forest that exist in the province.

On Friday, 18 students from School District 73 got a glimpse into the job, as they took part in fitness testing and learned some fundamental firefighting skills.

Loaded up with a variety of weighted items, high school seniors from across SD73 were put through the paces at the Kamloops Fire Centre on Friday morning (Apr. 29).

“They will go up and over the ramp 25 times, and then they’ll do a sled pull, as well,” Joshua Skinner, BCWS Wildland Firefighter explains. “It’s a 120-lb sled, and it’s to mock a charged firehose you’d see on a fire line.”

The fitness test is designed to mimic the tasks firefighters would experience while out on a fire. The weights are the same dimensions as firefighting gear, like pumps and hoses, which can be quite taxing.

“I was definitely struggling,” Talyn Lorimer, Grade 12 student at SouthKam Secondary tells CFJC Today. “It was pretty easy at the beginning, and then I hit a spot where I really wanted to give up. I just kind of zoned out and powered through. By the end, it was pretty rewarding.”

Talyn Lorimer labours under the weight of a 55 lbs hose pack during fitness testing – Image Credit: CFJC Today

The students spent part of this week preparing for the physical test, training with members of the Bighorn Unit Crew, who are stationed at the Kamloops Fire Centre. Once fitness testing was done, the students headed up into the Lac Du Bois grassland to learn some practical firefighting skills.

“I really like being in the bush and the woods,” Lorimer says. “I have family members who were in firefighting and I’ve heard some really good experiences. You’re part of a team, and I really like that.”

Talyn also sees wildland firefighting as a means to finance her post-secondary education.

“I really want to do it for the summer and pay for my school,” Lorimer says. “I hope to do it maybe this summer. We’ll see.”

Joshua Skinner went through the junior firefighter program back in 2019. He says as long as you’re ready and willing to work hard, you’ll fit in.

“Everybody’s different sizes here, not everyone has to carry the same amount of hose,” Skinner says. “If you try your hardest every day, you’ll fit in great.”