Elk Valley and South Country: left to right – Jon Stell, Rocco Hamilton, Nick Weins, Arlen Des Champ

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has wrapped up their highly successful Firefighter Work Experience Pilot Program (WEP).

“This year’s Work Experience Program was successful in enhancing our seasonal regional wildfire readiness and response resulting in positive results on several occasions,” says Columbia Valley Rural Fire and Rescue Service Chief Drew Sinclair. “These qualified firefighters were able to broaden their experience and skill base in a number of disciplines while bolstering our existing paid on call numbers and allowing us to increase our public outreach programs this year as well.”

The RDEK brought on eight WEP students to learn and assist with fire departments in Jaffray, Baynes Lake, Elko, and Hosmer, Fairmont, Windermere, Edgewater, and Panorama. Under the direction of the Fire Chiefs, the WEP firefighters gained practical first-hand experience in firefighting, medical calls, wildland fire, and highway rescue. The experience gained through the program will assist the students in their firefighting careers and in applying for positions.

Columbia Valley: Bottom left – Justine Gregg, middle – Ali Leach, top – Alex Sinclair, bottom right – Will Ewald

“The positive contributions that our WEP students made allowed us to not only respond to fires and emergencies within our region in an effective way, but also meant that we had enough coverage in our home halls to allow members from our departments to assist in other parts of the province during heavy wildfire activity this year,” says Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire and Rescue Chief Michael Hockley. “The program has proven to be incredibly successful both for the students and our Regional Fire Service, and I hope to see it continue for years to come.”

For more information on the Columbia Valley and Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire and Rescue Services, visit www.rdek.bc.ca.