Behind Austin Conquergood91裸聊视频檚 safety visor just a hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he stands in close proximity to the flames ripping from the car91裸聊视频檚 interior.
That happiness stems from the fact six weeks ago the Princess Margaret grad got the call saying he had been chosen to fill one of two, new, full-time career positions with .
91裸聊视频淚t was a great feeling to get that call, it really is a dream come true that91裸聊视频檚 for sure,91裸聊视频 said Conquergood, 22, as the sweat poured down his face after completing the burning car training exercise at the Number 202 Hall. 91裸聊视频淚 was a paid on call (auxiliary) member for about three years and this is what I91裸聊视频檝e always wanted to. It91裸聊视频檚 awesome and you couldn91裸聊视频檛 ask for a better bunch of guys.91裸聊视频
He and the department91裸聊视频檚 first female member, Issy 91裸聊视频淚zzy91裸聊视频 Venables, have been undergoing an intensive training regime in preparation for their placement on the regular department roster.
91裸聊视频淛ust working with the crew that I91裸聊视频檓 going to be working with and getting those skills and getting their knowledge is critical,91裸聊视频 said Conquergood. 91裸聊视频淎s a paid on call we don91裸聊视频檛 get the hands-on training everyday so this definitely helps. Getting here we may be 90, 95 per cent but we want to get to that 100 per cent and this is the way to do it.91裸聊视频
Capt. Wayne McKenzie was supervising Conquergood91裸聊视频檚 training in this particular session.
91裸聊视频淪o today we91裸聊视频檙e preparing Austin for his career as a firefighter with live fire drills just so he gets used to all of our equipment and that will prepare him for success in his career,91裸聊视频 said McKenzie. 91裸聊视频淭his training facility is top notch, there91裸聊视频檚 no replacement for a firefighter like Austin to be able to experience the heat, the smoke, the flames, there is just no replacement for that in terms of being prepared for an actual fire, a real event.91裸聊视频
According to deputy chief Dennis Smith, the new recruits are doing well and likely less than a week away from a spot on the regular department roster.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e building on that (previous firefighting skills training) and so now what we do is introduce them to some of the rescue tasks that we do, the swift water and ice rescue. Both of them were out on the ice earlier this year. They91裸聊视频檒l do auto accident and they91裸聊视频檒l be live fire training with our crews just to build everyone91裸聊视频檚 trust and confidence in each other doing that hot work.
91裸聊视频淲e start off slow and easy and thoughtful and the comfort or confidence level is pretty easily attained because as auxiliaries they91裸聊视频檝e already been relying on that relationship to acquire that job that they have now.91裸聊视频
For Izzy Venables, 31, fighting fires is not new, especially after four years as a Penticton Auxiliary and a decade in the forestry wildfire business travelling throughout the province and U.S. on the front lines.
91裸聊视频淚 decided to switch because I think that I saw more of a future in structural (firefighting) and I knew that91裸聊视频檚 really where my interests lay I wanted get more into the first responders site of things out of the seasonal gig,91裸聊视频 said Venables. 91裸聊视频淚t also really opens up the doors to things like rope rescue training or swift water training or ice rescue training. Also there91裸聊视频檚 the MVA side o f things the medical side of things.91裸聊视频
She is also no stranger to the school of hard knocks, having played women91裸聊视频檚 rugby at the premier level however is now transitioning to the less damaging world of (non contact) standup paddle board racing.
No matter what she is doing, Venables enjoys the camaraderie of working with others.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a real team dynamic atmosphere here. I was able to put my experience on a wild (fire) line crew and through my experience playing sports, bring it into this kind of team atmosphere at the fire department,91裸聊视频 she said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 huge for me, I kind of think, for myself, being in a team atmosphere gives you an opportunity to strive to be the best person you can be but also motivate your peers at the same time. It91裸聊视频檚 a pretty big part of the puzzle.
91裸聊视频淧enticton is pretty lucky we have some career staff who are really well versed not only in firefighting but in other areas as well and I91裸聊视频檝e kind of been a bit of a sponge and absorbed as much knowledge as they have to give.91裸聊视频
Having volunteered at the Soupateria, SPCA and working with St. John Ambulance Brigade she is looking forward to the department91裸聊视频檚 outside participation in community activities.
And as far as the gender issue, Venables is quite at home working in 91裸聊视频渁 man91裸聊视频檚91裸聊视频 world and does not feel any added pressure being the only female firefighter in town.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e always been the female amongst the men so I91裸聊视频檓 pretty used to it, not a big change,91裸聊视频 she said. 91裸聊视频淔or me, overall when I look at the big picture, being the only female, there are young girls and young men looking towards me, seeing me kind of blazing a path and that gets me a little bit excited.
91裸聊视频淔or me personally, I91裸聊视频檓 just coming to work every day and learning as much as I can and do the best job that I can do and being able to serve the people of Penticton is just such a big plus and that91裸聊视频檚 what I91裸聊视频檓 looking forward to doing.91裸聊视频