From Behind the Lens

After Month Two

Fri, 1 Mar 2013 14:30:02 -0500

First off, I need to apologize for not keeping as current with this blog as I had hoped. As I’m sure you can imagine, the first term of the pre-service program is quite heavy with course work, so there has been a lot of group and homework to do. That being said, I do hope to keep a better log of what’s going on in the program and to update some of the highlights of the program as I go along.

This was a great week for me and my colleagues. We had our first fitness midterm and nearly everyone did much better than they had expected. The exam was a modified York Test. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the York Test is becoming the standard test for firefighter fitness in Ontario. It includes a cardio test (in our case we do the 20 meter beep/shuttle test) and a number of timed events during which we wear 40lb weight vests and 12lb ankle weight. The events include a stair climb (2 flights, up and down, 4 times with an 85lb hose bundle), a sled pull (155lb over 50’), a ladder lift (55lb), and a dummy drag (200lb over 50’). From my earlier blogs you’ll know this was something I’ve been very nervous about, but am happy to report I passed with a comfortable margin!

Secondly, Laura King, editor of Firefighting in Canada spoke to our class about the relationship between the media and the fire service. This topic was of particular interest to me as it is something I’m not only interested in but participate in on a regular basis. Laura had some great insight from the perspective of a journalist and editor and was able to give us some pointers on how to handle media relations and the impact the media can have on the fire service.

We also had a great training session at WRESTRC (Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Centre). We practiced our ladder rescues, climbs, and hoists. The program at Conestoga is designed to have one class of fire ground theory followed by one of fire ground operations. It is great to be able to apply the theory to the practical fire ground operations, especially at WRESTRC. Being able to do everything we’ve learned in a hands-on setting really helps to solidify the training and gain practical experience.

Finally, today we were fortunate enough to go through the safeTALK program in our Psychology for First Responders class. This program is designed to equip us with the tools needed to identify the signs of suicidal thoughts in the people with whom we interact. It is based on the principles of opening the lines of communication for those with suicidal thoughts and helping them get the professional attention they need. It was a very effective program and provided some valuable insight into something many of us will see throughout our careers.

All in all, it was a very
busy but very successful week. I may have missed photographing two structure fires in the region, but I wouldn’t have wanted to miss any of these experiences!

Cheers,
IEH

Reflections on Month One

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:51:06 -0500

It has been my goal to write a blog about my pre-service experiences each week, but with the first term being so focused on theory, I’m finding it hard to make time for blog updates. I hope, as the weeks go by, I’ll have a better grasp on my schedule and will be able to make more frequent updates.

Anyway, a lot has happened during the first four weeks of the program. Most notably, I had the honour of being elected class president by my peers. The position includes a number of organizational duties, communications between faculty and students, sitting in on some of the program meetings, and organizing the various class committees (volunteering, fundraising, etc.). I feel very fortunate to have been elected by my class for this position and hope that my 11+ years of post-secondary education put me in good stand to uphold the position to the best of my abilities.

In the meantime, the course work continues to become more involved and the number of assignments is piling up! Currently, we are working on presentations based on various aspects of fire-related legislation in Ontario, writing essays and presentations on various topics in firefighting history, preparing an essay on Rapid Intervention Teams in Ontario, and studying for tests in fire ground operations and psychology for first responders.

One of the strengths of the program is the diversity of courses we are required to take. Outside of our fire-specific studies, we are working on our business communication skills, developing methods for managing interpersonal conflict, and studying the psychological impacts of being a firefighter. I have a strong suspicion these courses will be very important for our personal development when we are hired on a department.

I guess I should end this post with an update on my fitness training. I am proud to say that as a class we have come together very quickly in the gym and we’ve become each other’s motivators. Knowing how much motivation and encouragement I need, I’m very happy to see the entire class is working together to get everyone up to their maximum levels of fitness. It all seems less daunting when everyone is working together. I still have a long way to go to beat the records in the various tests (ha!), but if I keep up with my current level of training over the next three months, supplemented with numerous team workouts outside of class, I’m confident I’ll be ready to pass the exams. Until then, it’s back to the books.

Cheers,
IEH

P.S. If anyone would like more information on a particular aspect of the program, please send me an email or leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer.

Phew…I made it!

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:39:06 -0500

Following last week’s post outlining my nervousness toward starting the pre-service program, I thought I should give an update on the first week’s proceedings. I am happy to report I survived the first week and am very excited about being in the program and have many things to look forward to over the next four months.
Three days a week we start bright and early in the recreation centre at Conestoga. As I’m sure you all know, I’ve been dreading fitness. While I consider myself to be in better than average shape, I knew this course would be a huge struggle for me. I’m happy to report it is exactly the struggle I knew it would be. It is not easy. It is, however, a great challenge and leaves me with a massive sense of accomplishment. The ultimate goal of the course is to prepare us for the York and CPAT fitness exams. In fact, our final exam is based on passing both tests. It will be a challenge for me to pass the York test, but I’m confident that through the course, along with my own training schedule, I will be as prepared as I possibly can be.
The rest of our schedule is divided into fire and non-fire specific courses. To begin, we have an introduction to the fire service which brings everyone up the same level in terms of understanding fire department history, terminology, tradition, and operations. We also have a course on public education and fire prevention. Finally, and perhaps the highlight for me, are our classes on fire-ground operations (theory and practical). This is the heart of the program and is, personally speaking, the best part of the week! The fact that it is taught by a variety of serving firefighters makes it even more valuable as we gain from their personal experiences.
Our non-fire specific courses include communications, conflict management, and psychology for first responders. I’m very impressed with the caliber of the instructors presenting these courses. Having LOTS of experience with university professors, each of these instructors stand up against any of the profs I have had. There will be lots to learn in these courses and it will all be directly applicable to my career in firefighting.
As for my cohort, we have come together very quickly in one week. Spending all day, everyday, together certainly helps. It also helps that we share the same goal and same interest – career firefighting. Even thought we come from different backgrounds and have different levels of familiarity with firefighting, I think these differences will prove to be an asset as we each bring a unique point of view into the program. I look forward to learning from my peers as much as I look forwarding to helping each of them develop their skills and learning techniques.
Anyway, that’s enough for week one. I’ve run my idea of blogging my experiences in the program past the administration and am happy to have their approval and encouragement. I hope this blog will provide insight for those interested in the program as well as those who look at the graduates as future coworkers and employees. Please continue to share your thoughts and questions. Please let me know if there are things you would like to see in the blog or would like more detail about and I’d be happy to reply.
Cheers,
IEH

My New Direction

Tue, 1 Jan 2013 13:08:29 -0500

A few months ago I messaged my family and friends letting them know I’d been accepted into the pre-service fire program at Conestoga College. Since then, I’ve spent nearly every waking minute questioning and second-guessing my decision to enrol. The program begins on Thursday and I’m still quite nervous about my decision.

As most of you know, I’ve been a “career student” for the past 10 years, completing a BA, a MA, and working toward a PhD in history. Recently, I’ve found my PhD program to be rather unfulfilling – mostly due to overwhelming isolation of the program as well as the lack of a concrete timeline for completion. While the process has not been as gratifying as I’d hoped, it has become quite comfortable and familiar. It is easy to see why so many graduate students, particularly those in the arts, struggle to complete their degrees – especially when the job market is as challenging as it is. It is very hard to leave the comfort of the university campus and venture out into the “real world.”

So, therein lies my challenge. For the first time in quite awhile I am embarking on something completely different and entirely outside my area of comfort. I’m leaving behind the flexibility and familiarity of my graduate studies and am enrolling in a program which is very regimented, quick-paced, and physically demanding.

As for the course itself, I am quite excited about learning the fundamental theoretical and practical skills of firefighting. It will be quite a shock to be writing exams once again (especially after working as a TA for the last 6 years, tasked primarily with marking undergraduate assignments and exams)! I am, however, looking forward to the structure, the routine, and the daily challenges of being back in the classroom. On the other hand, I am very nervous about the physical demands of the program. I am sure I will find myself at the upper end (if not the top) of the age range in the class and I know I will struggle to keep up with those who are younger and more fit than I. While I’ve been working very hard to prepare myself, I am still very worried about the upcoming physical challenges. It has been very hard to not let my worries cast a shadow over my excitement about the program, but until the course is underway, my concerns continue to be rather overwhelming.

Nevertheless, on Thursday morning I report for orientation in the gym at Conestoga and my new direction will be officially underway. Perhaps the best thing at this point is to just get started. I’ve put a lot (some might say too much) thought into this and now I just need to get going!

For those who follow my site, albums, and blog I do plan on continuing my updates – even at a higher pace. I’m considering blogging my experiences as a pre-service student (I’d appreciate any comments/ideas you may have) and I’ll continue to photograph fire scenes as long as they occur outside of my class schedule...

Thanks for reading. Thanks to those who have shared their advice. I look forward to your comments and to keeping you posted on my progress.

Cheers,
IEH

“The times they are a changin”

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:10:36 -0400

I must begin by apologizing for the nearly 6-month hiatus since my last blog update. A lot has happened in my life and in the local fire services since April, but I hope this short update will highlight a few of the major events since I last wrote.

Of great note, especially for this site, is the retirement of Waterloo Deputy Chief Larry Brassard. DC Brassard spent 5 years in his role as Deputy Chief Operations in Waterloo (including some time spent as Acting Chief). The department is very different from when DC Brassard first signed on in 2007 – the most visible change would be the three new frontline apparatus now in service. DC Brassard has accepted the position of Fire Chief for the Town of Gravenhurst. Chief Brassard will command three volunteer stations, a full time prevention and administration department, and approximately 50 volunteer firefighters. Located in the heart of cottage country, it sounds like an ideal way to spend one’s retirement years!

DC Brassard has been a great friend and supporter of this site. He has been extremely supportive of my work to bring publicity to all the departments in the region. Other than his misguided affinity for Canon cameras, DC Brassard has been tireless in his efforts to keep me up to date and act as my sounding board for my ideas about the fire service. I wish all the best to Chief Brassard and hope he continues to provide comments on this site and updates on what’s happening in cottage country.

In other news, the Township of Woolwich continues to improve the status of its front-line apparatus. Breslau has received its new custom-cab pumper-tanker. I’m sure someone will be able to update the details of the truck, but I’ve attached a picture for your viewing pleasure. I’ve been told it won’t be long until a custom rescue truck will be delivered to St. Jacobs station...so stay tuned!

Meanwhile, for those who have seen KFD in action may have noticed something blue. In August the department switched to Drager SCBA. This fancy new kit includes quick-change cylinders, among many other technological advances. I have yet to catch KFD in action with their new breathing apparatus, but I’ll be sure to update the site when I do. I’ll try to get up close with one of the new packs and post a few pictures.

Over the next week I will be photographing two events in the Region. First is the Drager Live Fire Training Tour (LiFTT) which will be taking place in Wellesley this weekend. LiFTT is a hands-on training experience based around the latest Drager equipment and tools. In addition, I’m honoured to be photographing the live-fire training at the Fire Service Women Ontario Conference and AGM at WRESTRC. Women firefighters from across Ontario will be participating in all types of hands-on training and workshops as part of their annual conference. Stay tuned for photos updates from both these events.

Cheers,
IEH