Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Nearly two dozen Indigenous teenagers participated in a three-day firefighting boot camp in Vancouver this week, as they look ahead to potential careers in both wildland and urban firefighting.
The boot camp was put on by a number of organizations, including the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS), Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and the Vancouver School Board.
In addition to providing both theoretical and practical firefighting demonstrations — including using the “jaws of life” cutters, hoses and even breaking down doors with axes — the boot camp featured prayers from First Nations elders and an incorporation of other cultural teachings.
Students at the camp said it provided a unique way to get out of the classroom, while instructors said they hoped it showed off a potential future career.
Nia Brown, who is in Grade 12, uses the “jaws of life” cutter to break apart a car as part of the boot camp. (Tom Coule/CBC)
“With youth of this age, they’re not sure what career paths they want to take. So we’re presenting options to them,” said Mattias Ballantyne, a fire services officer with FNESS.
“A lot of them are showing a lot of initiative and enthusiasm for the career in firefighting.”
Ballantyne said that, in addition to urban firefighting skills, the boot camp included lessons on wildfire fighting — potentially letting the teens explore a future career with the B.C. Wildfire Service.
Ballantyne estimated there were around 20 to 30 members of a peer support and resource group comprised of Indigenous firefighters in Vancouver. (Tom Coule/CBC)
Grade 12 student Nia Brown, who was part of Friday’s cohort, drawn from schools around Vancouver, said that it was her second time doing a firefighting boot camp — but the first time she broke down doors, which she described as an exciting experience.
She was one of seven female students at the camp, out of 22 students.
“It’s really nice to have women around. And … it doesn’t feel like there’s that much of a difference, which I love,” she said.
“Like there’s not like a huge difference between men and women in this.”
Nia Brown said it was heartening to see women at the boot camp. She said the boot camp showed her there were doors open everywhere for her. (Tom Coule/CBC)
Jaxon Brown, who studies in Grade 11, said he definitely wants to get into firefighting after the camp.
“I just don’t really want to be sitting a lot when I’m like at my job. I want to be very active and I want to like do something that isn’t really on paper,” he said.
“And also another thing about firefighting is I like see that there’s like a really good community.”
The boot camp runs in different forms throughout the year, organized by Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services.