CHERRY GROVE – With the completion of the Cherry Grove fire hall on the horizon, new volunteer fire fighters have been training in preparation for its opening.
According to the Government of Alberta, the $5.5 million fire hall will have three bays, and two additional bays for grader storage along Highway 55. The project is set to be completed this year.
Joe Bruyere, the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authorities Regional Training Officer, said the team of volunteer firefighters has completed their level one training which prepares them to begin their position.
“Fire training is continuous throughout your whole career, but level one means they will have their basic standard for firefighting. A good number of them have already started level two training, and for those that did move on to level two training, we actually have additional weekly training happening to prepare them.”
Bruyere said much of the training took place in Cherry Grove and he spoke highly of how accommodating the Cherry Grove Ag Society has been.
“The Cherry Grove Ag society let us use the community hall to do most of our training. That’s where the theory was done and some of the minor practical portions . . . The people in Cherry Grove were amazing. It’s a beautiful community with awesome people.”
The majority of the practical components were taught in Bonnyville at the MD yard where they have a training tower to practice.
“They training went very well. It’s a great group of people and there's a lot of buy in from them, so it was nice to see. It’s great to instruct when people really want to learn.”
April 27 to May 3 is National Volunteer Week
