Thirteen potential recruits came out to Grand Forks Fire Rescue’s Firefighter for a Night event, nearly doubling last year’s turnout.
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Addressing members and newcomers behind the 2nd Street firehall Wednesday evening (April 28), Fire Chief George Seigler spoke to the department’s team spirit. “Without our volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do for our community,” he reminded the socially-distanced crowd.
Seasoned firefighters then put the prospects through a series of drills and demonstrations as Dep. Chief Rich Piché ran the show.
“It was fantastic,” Piché said, adding that he’d hoped to bring in 10 people.
Newcomers Bram and Andrea Martin said they’d come to meet new people and to see if they could give back to their community. “We don’t want to just be users of its services,” Bram explained.
High schoolers Aiden Warriner, Hadley Switzer and Hunter Greaves said they’d heard about the event at Grand Forks Secondary School’s fire suppression class, where they’ve be learning from firefighting legend and former Midway fire chief, Walt Osellame.
“It sounded like it’d be fun,” Switzer said.
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The atmosphere was light-hearted, but each exercise was designed to replicate part of an experienced firefighter’s routine. Prospects seemed to enjoy going up the department’s 100-foot extendable ladder, but they had to work to get in and out of their department kit in under a minute, which Seigler explained is the industry standard.
Piché in his debrief stressed that, while the department relies on discipline, expectations are flexible. Volunteers who are uncomfortable working at heights can focus on other, equally valuable skills.
“There’s something in everyone that we can use,” he said.
Selected recruits will start their training in June, pending criminal background checks and panel interviews.
All participants, including The Gazette, were given thorough COVID-19 screenings and asked to provide contact-tracing information as per current pandemic guidelines.
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