John

Why did you choose Humber College?

I didn’t know very much about a career in firefighting or what I was looking for in a Pre-Service program prior to pursuing the career. A web search pulled up many Pre-Service Firefighter programs displaying welcome pages with general information regarding structure and content. None of the websites gave reasons as to why I should choose one over the other. I learned about Humber College’s reputation for training firefighters after talking to multiple firefighters from departments across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). I also learned that all the instructors at the college are active firefighters within the GTA. Learning from the men and women that I wanted to work with was a very appealing aspect of this program. As opposed to some hybrid or accelerated programs, Humber College completely envelopes you into the Fire Service atmosphere for 8 months. This included a duty uniform, equipment inspections, uniform inspection and other important aspects of the career. I found that 8 months of skills repetition and good habits would go a lot further in preparing me to become a firefighter than months of online classes or weeks in class. I ultimately decided to pursue education from Humber College because I believed it was the right fit for me and was going to best prepare me to become a firefighter.

What were/are your career aspirations?

Like any Pre-Service student my main career aspiration was to become a firefighter. As I progressed through my education at Humber College, I realized that my dream career was to work for Toronto Fire Services because of the diversity within the city, the population density and access to training on many different types of apparatus. I was successful in my application process to multiple departments in British Columbia as well as in Ontario because of the preparation that was given to me through the Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training Program at Humber College. I ultimately decided on staying local. As for future career aspirations, I am currently working as an instructor at Humber College in the Pre-Service program and would like to grow further. 

How did the faculty help you on your road to reaching your goals?

The faculty at Humber College offers a wealth of information about many Fire Departments in the GTA. This allows them to employ many core values that Fire Departments use in everyday operation. One excellent example is the chain of command structure which mimics Fire Departments’. Students learn to relay information within the chain of command which involves peers, Platoon Leaders, Company Officers and Program Chief. Accountability and integrity are also stressed by the faculty members. This ensures that students understand professionalism and a positive public image in the community. The way that the faculty delivers the curriculum in the Pre-Service program made for a smooth transition from student at Humber College to new recruit.

What would you say was the single best learning experience in the program?

The single best learning experience in the program was the live-burn days at the burn tower. All our practical skills days, skills repetitions, studying and testing was combined into five days on the fireground. Any fireground assignment from Primary Search to Rapid Intervention Team could be assigned to you and your crew. Fire Attack was my favourite assignment. This involved pulling hose lines off the truck, securing a water source and making entry to a burning building to find the seat of the fire. Humber College uses Class A combustibles for burn days which creates realistic environments during evolutions. This provides you with insight into the heat you may experience on a real fireground, and the hard work and perseverance required to complete the job assigned to you. I enjoyed the hard physical work and challenge that these evolutions demanded of me.

What elements of the program best prepared you for your career?

One element of Humber College’s program that best prepared me for my career was the number of repetitions on testable firefighter skills and the amount of time on tools. To become a firefighter in any department in the GTA you are required to pass standardized testing offered by independent agencies or the Fire Department itself. When it came to testing during any application process my skills were well-honed. Not only were the repetitions helpful with testing but when responding to calls, any skill that was taught at Humber College has stayed with me and is performed with ease because of the training received in the Pre-Service program. The program established a strong base set of skills which I have been able to build upon during my career.

Would you recommend this program to others and why?

Yes, I would recommend this program to anyone that would like to pursue the Fire Service as a career. The curriculum is thorough and well developed creating an accessible educational experience for people along any walk of life. The delivery of the curriculum is where the Pre-Service program at Humber College really shines. The instructional staff are professional, passionate about the career and invested in developing future firefighters that they might work with one day. They create an excellent atmosphere that is very close to the Fire Departments that you’d like to work for one day.