Red Deer County has rolled out a program to get youngsters started on a career in fire and emergency services.
A new Fire Cadet Program was announced on Thursday that will offer a "comprehensive and structured pathway" for young people interested in answering the call as firefighters or emergency responders.
The program combines classroom theory with hands-on training so cadets can graduate with a NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1001 Firefighter Level 1 Certification, which is a key credential for prospective firefighters.
“As someone who started my career as a work experience student, I have a special place in my heart for these programs, I am truly excited to see this come to fruition.” said Red Deer County Fire Chief Drayton Bussiere.
“If you know a student who might be interested learning the values of commitment, pride, and teamwork, the Fire Cadet Program is designed to not only train the next generation of emergency responders but also instill essential qualities such as leadership, community involvement, mentorship and cooperation.”
Most training will take place at the county fire station in the Clearview Industrial Area with other practical sessions held in fire stations closest to where cadets live.
The county is providing all of the necessary textbooks, reading materials, and uniforms. Cadets will only need to supply their own polishable black steel-toed boots.
The county says the program is part of its ongoing commitment to community safety and youth development.
Red Deer County's paid on-call frefighters are based out of Red Deer County Protective Services are based out of eight different locations in the county. Two additional districts are covered by agreements with the Innisfail and Sylvan Lake Fire departments.
