Kelly

Why did you choose Humber College?

Humber College was the most highly recommended college for the Pre-Service Firefighting Training and Education program. I knew multiple people who had completed the program and left with successful careers after graduation. The Humber program provided me with all of the critical training and skills that I needed to be successful and helped me obtain the certifications fire departments require to be a recognized candidate for their respective cities. Hands-on training is essential while preparing to be a firefighter and the live burn training and practical work provided by the program was incredible. I also enjoyed how accessible the Humber College location is. I lived in the GTA and commuting was never an issue. There was always an easy way to get to school to learn and be present.

What are your career aspirations?

I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter. After graduating from the program, I was quickly hired as a full-time operations firefighter. The Humber program allowed me to obtain all of the required certificates that other programs didn’t offer. Humber helped me become a professional not only as a firefighter but as someone who is proud of what they were able to accomplish. The course is physically and mentally stimulating. The program taught me more than just how to do firefighting operations, it provided structure and teamwork. 

How have the faculty helped you on your road to reaching your goals? 

The faculty/Captains at Humber are current and trained operating firefighters so they are very experienced and passionate about the profession. Our Captains had to be able to teach and be a technician in every aspect of being a firefighter which is very different than most professions. Their experience whether it was course-related or professional development was outstanding. The Captains were able to mentor me and provide me with the guidance I needed to succeed to grow as a firefighter. The program coordinator was very supportive of their students and was always there to help with an open door. 

What would you say has been the single best learning experience in the program you are in?

The Pre-Service program provides you with five live burn days where we encompass everything we had learned throughout the course and apply it on the fireground at the burn tower. By this stage, we have had countless hours of training and personal, hands-on experience with the equipment to run a safe and effective scenario. Deploying ladders, hoisting tools, life-saving techniques, and all firefighting operations are made practical, making you take everything you have learned and incorporating it into a real-life scenario. The work that a firefighter does is very hands-on and physically demanding, which is different than a lot of other careers. With that said, there are proper ways that operations need to be done without cutting any corners. The seriousness of each situation in the career of a firefighter requires you to be engaged and passionate about what you’re doing and the live burn brings this into perspective. You also learn a lot about teamwork, completing your set task, and staying focused.

Would you recommend the program to others, and why?

I would highly recommend this course to others! Every week that I went to class I was excited to go in and learn. Not many people can say that. I was excited because every day was different and fun. The Captains made it exciting running drills and always keeping you on your toes which made it fun to get to try different scenarios. It was also great to be surrounded by like-minded people who are focused and motivated to learn. I have gained lifelong friends from this program, I have achieved my goal of becoming a full-time firefighter, and I have learned so much through the course that I can take back to my personal growth. This course leaves you feeling accomplished and proud of what you can achieve when you put the effort in.