A new group of First Nations firefighters has graduated and is ready to serve their communities.

Last month, Wetaskiwin Fire Services hosted the First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group.

TSAG provides technical services and training for First Nations in Alberta such as asset management, water and wastewater management, environmental management, housing support services, fire safety, information technology services and youth initiatives. TSAG is mandated by the Chiefs of Alberta and takes direction from a Chiefs Steering Committee and Board of Directors, which include representatives from Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8.

Having recently completed training in Slave Lake, trainers header to Wetaskiwin to provide Level 1 certification to First Nations looking to join their fire departments.

“Montana just received funding a built a fire hall,” said Cindy Conroy TSAG manager of Fire Protection and Prevention. “They were able to get funding to build the fire hall and now they’re looking at getting their basic training and utilize that fire department.”

Prior to this, Montana depended on mutual aid agreements to fight fires in the community.

In addition to the candidates from Montana, one candidate came from Drift Pile and the rest from Samson, Louis Bull and Ermineskin.

Throughout the month, the candidates used Wetaskiwin Fire Services training facility to get their certification.

“They were kind enough to supply us with pump operators and arrange lunches for the students It’s a very good facility,” said Conroy.

Conroy explained TSAG can only use facilities approved by the Office of the Fire Commissioner for their training and Wetaskiwin met their needs in Treaty 6.

“We’ll be back in the fall for Level2 training,” she said.

“With our fire training facility, we want to train ourselves to the highest standards,” said Wetaskiwin Fire Services Deputy Fire Chief Alex Plant, “but we offer our facility our for training to our Mutual Aid partners and others because we want firefighters to be the best they can be and cut down on injuries and fatalities.”