Grand Forks Fire Rescue and the Grand Forks Search and Rescue teams are in need of some more help.
Dale Heriot, fire chief for the Grand Forks Fire Rescue, noted they are looking for volunteers at the George Evans Fire Hall (North Fork Road), the Carson Fire Hall (Reservoir Road), and the Nursery Fire Hall (Starchuk Road).
“We are looking for volunteer firefighters and applicants must be at least 19 years of age,” he said. “All training is provided but they must have a valid drivers license and pass a criminal record check.”
Heriot noted that as a volunteer firefighter, not only would you assist in firefighting, but also rope rescue, fire prevention, public safety, and community events.
“Some of the tasks would include: advancing fire attack hose lines, operating fire engines, wild land firefighting, traffic control during road emergencies, providing medical treatments for patients, learning ropes and knots for use in rope rescue, using throw bags and setting up safety lines during swift-water rescue, using power tools, etc.” he concluded.
With the Grand Forks Search and Rescue group, president Lawrence Radford noted that they are looking for two different groups of people.
“One that can help in the search itself, that entails taking a course that we put on ourselves at the meeting,” Radford said. “The second, we need a group of people that can offer support, as getting food and things like that, when we do have a search.”
Volunteers for Grand Forks Search and Rescue must be at least 16 years old and training is provided.
“Because we are part of a bigger group, that we all have a standard way of doing things and you’re taught how to do that,” he added. “Meetings are the first and third Tuesday every month at the Nursery Fire Hall at 6:30 p.m.”
For more information or to volunteer with the Grand Forks Fire Rescue call Heriot at 250-442-3612 or visit gffr.ca, or for Grand Forks Search and Rescue, contact Radford at 250-442-3011 or visit gfsar.ca.
