International Firefighter’s Day: ‘Risk a lot and save a lot; risk a little to save a little’

On Tuesday evening firefighters from Crossfield’s Volunteer Fire Department gathered in the fire hall for live training scenarios. Discover Airdrie came to the demonstration to get a behind-the-scenes look at what training for firefighters looks like.

“We include the NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 1001 programming, which is the professional firefighters' program that allows us to work in the field,” said Department Chief Ben Niven. “[It’s] no different than [what] you would see at a professional level with the city of Airdrie or Rockyview County type of training.”

The live scenarios can include vehicle extrication after a car accident, search and rescues, chemical fires and spills, and of course live-fire demonstrations.

“The live training that we do is to help simulate what a firefighter would get into in entering a structure fire and knowing when to risk a lot to save a lot and risk little to save a little,” Chief Niven said. “We really want to instill safety, but to get that in there, our trainees and our members need to know what that feels like and what it looks like.”

Crossfield firefighters are seen putting out a fire during a simulation (Photo by Anna Ferensowicz)

Niven underlined that while the scenarios are just that, simulations, training officer Mark Lang with the Crossfield Fire Department said that all the simulations are based on events that he has witnessed in his time as a firefighter. Lang said that perhaps one of the more challenging parts of being a paid-on-call firefighter in a small community like that of Crossfield is that sometimes the calls firefighters attend can mean they are attending the call of a neighbour or even a family member.

“The training is as real as we can possibly make it with all of the steps involved, so people aren't just rushing in and potentially getting hurt or worse.”

Tuesday evening's simulations included a live-fire simulation, a simulation that included a man trapped under beams with the need for STARS air ambulance to assist, as well as a hazardous chemical spill.

“We do everything here in Crossfield as you would do with a full-time department. There's really no difference in the information the firefighters are getting be it a paid on or full time [firefighter].”

Chief Niven who is going into his 24th year as a paid-on-call firefighter said that while the risks for career firefighters are the same as those who are paid-on-call, being a paid-on-call firefighter has little to do with remuneration.

May 4th is commemorated as International Firefighter Day (Photo by Anna Ferensowicz)

“My brother was on the volunteer fire department here [in Crossfield] first before I was, and they said they were looking for some volunteers. I was just going to go into university and I thought I've got some free time, I can do it,” he said. “To this day I still enjoy exactly what I do; helping people and whatnot.”

While the fire hall has played an integral part in Niven wanting to help his community, it is also how he met his spouse, whom he has been married to for nearly as long as his firefighting career has spanned.

“It's been a journey for me, but I do it for my fellow townsfolk and I just really want to be there tat their time of need.”

May 4th marked International Firefighters Day, a day meant for both the public and firefighters to reflect on the many sacrifices that they make. And though the sacrifices are grave, both physically and psychologically, Niven said he vividly remembers a particular call that resonates with him decades later.

“We responded to a vehicle that was rolled over, and this lady was pretty upset. I stayed with her all the way until the ambulance came, she just grabbed my hand, looked at me with a tear in her eye and said ‘thank you for all you do.’”

Niven said that call was close to 16 years ago.