South Alberta Fire Rescue Academy

10/06/2026

Our South Alberta Fire & Rescue students have been hard at work over the past couple of weeks, getting plenty of hands-on experience and putting their skills to the test! Last week, students had the opportunity to practice their radio communications with a fun challenge that involved identifying and describing specific LEGO constructions to a partner in another room. It was a great exercise in learning how to communicate clearly and effectively when you can’t see what the other person is doing. Today, the students shifted their focus to water supply and fire attack, learning about different nozzles and hoses while getting hands-on experience setting up portable ponds, pumping water, and even operating the turrets off our wildland truck. These practical training opportunities are a great way for our students to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in a hands-on environment.

09/18/2026

🌲 Kicking off the year hands-on in Elkwater! 🌲
South Alberta Fire Rescue (SAFR) headed down to Elkwater, AB for an action-packed, two-night start-of-the-year field trip with 26 students. It was an incredible weekend of team building, high-intensity field drills, and practical skill-building in the trees!
Year 1 Cadets
* Dialed in their core response skills and officially completed their First Aid Certification—setting a strong foundation for the rest of the year.
Year 2 Cadets
Spent two days learning directly from active Wildland Firefighters, taking their training to the next level with hands-on technical instruction:
* Fire Behavior: Using the Fire Weather Index (FWI) and Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) systems to accurately read and predict fire movement.
* Field Safety: Deep dives into situational awareness and proper wildland PPE protocols.
* Tactical Demos: Watching a live demonstration on cutting and constructing escape routes in heavy cover.
* Water Delivery Systems: Operating portable pumps, running hose lines, and perfecting the art of meloning hose.
On Thursday, Year 2 cadets covered about 17 km on foot, taking close to 30,000 steps.
Huge shoutout to Chris Clarke, Cory Harrison and Chance, Cameron and Kieran from the Helitack crew for sharing their expertise, and congratulations to all 26 students for putting in the sweat! 🚒🔥

09/15/2026

Yesterday, our SAFR students pushed their limits during our first physical fitness testing of the year!

The students tackled a series of high-intensity stations specifically geared toward the demands of the fire service. From testing endurance and strength to building grit, everyone brought incredible energy and determination to the floor.

09/11/2026

07/13/2026

It took a while to get the exam results back, but a huge congratulations is in order to all 8 SAFR students from Senator Gershaw school. All 8 students are now Level 1 certified Firefighters in Alberta. Congratulations Isack Hamm, Maria Hamm, Shayla Hodgson, Tamara Iwamoto, Ian Pahl, Lily Snortland, Loki Thacker and Sophia Wever!

06/30/2026

Let’s give a massive shoutout and a huge round of applause to **Jackson Veilleux** and **Graeme Hofmann**! 🎓 🚒
These two have had a monumental few weeks, achieving milestones that set a pretty incredible foundation for their futures. Not only did they just cross the stage to graduate high school, but they also successfully completed the rigorous **South Alberta Fire Rescue (SAFR)** program!
But they aren't stopping there. We are thrilled to announce that both Jackson and Graeme have officially joined the **Bow Island Fire Department**, stepping up to serve and protect our community.
> To see the dedication, hard work, and passion these young men have poured into their education and training is nothing short of inspiring.
>
Jackson and Graeme, we are immensely proud of everything you’ve accomplished so far. We can't wait to see the incredible impact you’ll both make on the department and our town. Welcome to the team, stay safe, and congratulations! 🚒🔥

06/15/2026

This past Saturday, South Alberta Fire Rescue (SAFR) students travelled to the Brooks Regional Fire Training Facility to complete their NFPA 1001 practical skills evaluations.

Throughout the day, students were assessed on a variety of essential firefighter competencies, including vertical ventilation operations, hoisting tools and equipment using rope systems, primary search and rescue techniques, victim removal, and fire suppression activities. These practical evaluations required students to demonstrate proficiency, safety, teamwork, and adherence to industry standards under realistic training conditions.

The successful completion of these skills marks an important milestone in the students’ journey toward becoming certified firefighters. We are proud of the dedication, professionalism, and determination demonstrated by each student throughout their training.

A special thank you to the instructors, evaluators, and staff at the Brooks Regional Fire Training Facility for their support in helping develop the next generation of firefighters.

A huge thank you to Deputy Chief Curtis Gouw, Captain Kent Unruh and Firefighter Christina Unruh for accompanying the students.

06/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JquyBjVSt/

We are incredibly proud to share that former Fire Academy student Quade VanderSpruit and current student Brolin VanderSpruit were recently deployed to assist in fighting the wildfires in Northern Alberta.

This is a true testament to the strength of our program and a real-world demonstration of how our students have the opportunity to step right into their career paths and make a difference, even while in high school.

Join us in thanking Quade and Brolin for their dedication, hard work, and service.
Prairie Rose Public Schools

05/18/2026

For the third and final week of fire suppression training, South Alberta Fire Rescue (SAFR) students had the opportunity to train alongside the dedicated volunteers of the Bow Island Fire Department (BIFD).

This week’s evolutions focused on advanced suppression operations, reinforcing concepts from Chapter 14 of IFSTA Essentials 7, including fire attack coordination, nozzle control techniques, hydraulic ventilation, and maintaining crew integrity during interior structural firefighting operations. Students applied proper hose stream management while practicing direct fire attack methods, advancing charged hoselines through simulated fire conditions, and improving communication under the Incident Command System (ICS).

BIFD volunteers provided valuable mentorship and real-world experience as students refined skills in flow path control, thermal layering awareness, and coordinated ventilation tactics designed to support safe and effective fire suppression.

A huge thank you to the members of Bow Island Fire Department for investing their time, knowledge, and professionalism into the next generation of firefighters. Partnerships like these are critical in building confidence, competence, and operational readiness.

05/07/2026

🔥 **Training Day: Turning Up the Heat with BIFD & SAFR!** 🔥
The **Bow Island Fire Department (BIFD)** had an action-packed day assisting the next generation of first responders! We rolled up to **Senator Gershaw School** to pick up the **South Alberta Fire Rescue (SAFR)** students for some high-intensity, hands-on training.
There’s no substitute for the real thing. Our students stepped out of the classroom and directly into **live fire training exercises**, getting a true taste of the heat, the gear, and the teamwork required on the line.
# # # 🛡️ Skills in Action
Beyond just managing the flames, students mastered critical tactical maneuvers, including:
* **Live Fire Suppression:** Learning fire behavior and nozzle techniques in real-time environments.
* **Hydraulic Ventilation:** Utilizing fog patterns to draw smoke and heat out of a structure—a vital skill for improving visibility and safety during a search.
# # # 🚒 Building the Future
Watching these students apply their knowledge under pressure was impressive. The dedication shown by these SAFR recruits proves that the future of fire services in Southern Alberta is in great hands.
**Stay safe, stay trained.**