Brenda Rhodes can technically say she spent a rainy, cloudy Bracebridge afternoon inside a warm building with friends.
However, the structure Bracebridge’s deputy mayor was in was warm because it was on fire and her friends included Jessie Lockie, training officer with the Bracebridge Fire Department, and the department’s co-op student Abigail Soeherman.
The training for the over 40 volunteers with the fire department was held at its headquarters at 225 Taylor Rd. on Saturday and Sunday. Lockie shares how the training unit simulates almost exactly what a real fire would be like, however, it’s within a safe, controlled environment. He says the fire department trains a few times every month, however, the unit allowed them to work on how they battle class B fires, which are fueled by flammable or combustible liquid.
“For some, it was a brand new experience, for others, it was a refresher,” he says.
Lockie details how he and other training officers were outside the unit with a thermal imaging system watching each team of three firefighters go through the tests. After each run-through, he explains he would go over what went well and what didn’t. By the time the training wrapped up Sunday afternoon, Lockie says he saw a lot of positive changes.
“Even though they probably had a couple of inches of water in their boots from the rain, they all came with big smiles and there was a lot of good feedback from it,” adds Lockie.
Rhodes joined the department Saturday afternoon.
She was led through the unit by a volunteer firefighter, Soeherman, with Lockie behind her directing her through the process.
“It’s a little intimidating when you’re trying to help out a councillor,” jokes Lockie.
Rhodes says she trained with the department for a few days ahead of time to make sure she was prepared. That involved learning how to put the proper gear on, which she said weighed nearly 80 lbs., and learning how to breathe through a mask.
Lockie adds they blacked out the mask Rhodes was wearing so she could experience low visibility. He says when they battle real fires, the visibility can be so poor you can’t see your hand directly in front of your face.
Rhodes says she knew the unit was safe, was confident in her prior training, and that the three firefighters with her would protect her, but adds she was still nervous stepping into the scenario.
“Until you actually put on the gear and experience what emergency services personnel do, it’s hard to imagine what happens at a call,” says Lockie.
While the department hasn’t battled many structure fires recently, Lockie says that just makes it more crucial for them to practice how to tackle the blazes. “Every little bit of training you do is another tool into the toolbox,” he continues.
Rhodes adds she has always respected the incredibly difficult job full-time and volunteer firefighters have, but this took her “respect and admiration to the next level.” She says she will take this experience back to the council table and use it to guide her when making future decisions about the town’s fire department.
However, she says it’s not likely she will switch her deputy mayor business card for a deputy fire chief badge anytime soon.
“I think there’s a lot more training and knowledge, years and years’ worth, that I still don’t have,” says Rhodes.