-B. C. firefighters i increase skills

“ FIREMEN: FROM throughout.

, the Lower Mainland are learn-
Ing rope-rescue techniques: in

North: Vancouver as part of a
privately funded $1-million,
- Program. |",

~ By lan Noble

‘News Reporter .

: District of North: Vancouver Fire’
. Services manager. of ‘training and",
education Gary Calder said the local,
* fire department was chosen as. the:
-program’ 's home thanks ‘to the dis-'
trict. fire department’ s extensive.

"experience in Tope rescues, in local
"canyons. oy esis

* Calder said» the program : “will ©

" provide spin-off benefits to, the pub-

“The ‘other fire departments: n

‘the: Lower. Mainland are going to:

mploy.a ‘similar training approach *

- that North. Vancouver. . District has ..

een employing for high-angle rope m

‘Tescue,”" he said, “so .we'll. all pe

“singing off the same song sheet.”

‘That’s important during a mutual

request:.when. fire: departments
ssist one another, Calder. noted. }

he:;.new.,. program, - which -
éceives:, funding - from .union and

te) -union B.C. construction firms,” - :

‘Tunning “its ‘first. class. at .the ”
“department's training centre on ihe,
banks of Lynn Creek.

Instructors, including {wo from
the District of North Vancouver Fire

ervices,’ are, providing training |to”

‘représentatives: from other depart
‘ments around the Lower Mainland.’
‘Firemen: from: all: three’ North.

EVERY. WEDNESDAY !S:

Shore fire departments are currently
receiving training, Calder said.
In turn, Lower Mainland repre-

; sentatives will go back to their local - .

departments and provide the train-

__ ing to their staff.

Calder ‘said the program also
provides monetary benetits for tax-
payers, who usually pay for fire-
~ fighter training and equipment.

_ In this case, industry foots the
bill.

. The idea for the program began

with ‘a Workers’ Compensation
‘Board edict to. the construction
industry. ;

Industry : players must provide
“rescue capability for high construc-

‘: thon sites, Calder said.

“In, 1991,” representatives: of ‘the
Construction Labour Relations
Association, : which — represents

unionized’ firms, asked fire chiefs:

“and. fire training officers if they

would offer high- angle rope rescue :

-10 construction sites.

- Calder. said that in return. con-
“struction firms would provide fund-.
ing and equipment for the training.

In ° jurisdictions where. fire
“departments take the construction’
: firms up on their offer, the construc-

tion firms are excused from provid- :

‘ing’ the.; training and equipment
themselves. ma

- The Greater Vancouver Regional .

“District Fire . Chiefs Technica!

~ Rescue Committee, formed in 1991.
“and headed by Calder, has brought.

' together: a comprehensive rope-res-

ment provision to Participating fire
“ departments.” a

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