The Grande Prairie Fire Department initiates ‘Camp F.I.R.E’

The Grande Prairie Fire Department has launched a new initiative, named “Camp F.I.R.E”, aimed at encouraging young women and gender-diverse individuals to join the fire service.

Camp F.I.R.E is a three-day program aimed at fostering independence, resilience, and empowerment while providing essential skills for the fire service profession in a supportive environment.

One of the firefighters in charge of Camp F.I.R.E Anne Butters says the program was established because she noticed a decline in women entering the fire service and wanted to boost the representation of women in the firefighting profession.

Anne Butters expressed this initiative aims to empower young women and gender-diverse individuals to enter the fire service through demonstration.

I think the low representation of females in this career leaves young women to believe that only a rare few women are suited for this type of career, potentially discouraging them from pursuing a rewarding career in emergency services. This camp is designated to demonstrate to these women and gender-inclusive youth that they can thrive in traditionally underrepresented careers inspiring them to pursue a rewarding career in fire services.

Young women and gender-diverse individuals aged 16 to 20 will have the opportunity to acquire firefighting skills, including personal protective equipment mastery, search and rescue operations, and confined space strategies.

On Day One, participants can expect to be introduced to basic personal protective equipment (PPE) and equipment used in the fire service. On the second day, individuals will move on to more advanced skills, such as forcible entry, water supply, and more. Finally, on the last day, participants will work through live fire scenarios in one of the training grounds.

Anne Butters, a firefighter with the Grande Prairie Fire Department, says that this initiative is an excellent opportunity for young women to explore new interests without the need for a full commitment.

This camp is a great opportunity for those who are interested in the emergency services but don’t want to fully commit, its a great way to ask questions in a supportive learning enviorment while getting to experince real life scenarios.

Applications for the program are currently open and will close on March 28th. Camp F.I.R.E will be taking place in early May with the camp days scheduled for May 3, 4 and 5 at the Westgate Station and County Dunes Fire Station in Grande Prairie.