Being a firefighter means dropping everything the moment a call for help comes in. Lakeland College's Class of 2023 emergency services technology (EST) fire stream students experienced that firsthand in May when Parkland County requested support dealing with an out-of-control wildfire situation near Entwistle, Alta.

The class was just finishing an exam when Emergency Training Centre (ETC) staff let them know about the request and to gauge whether it was something the students wanted to do - and it definitely was.

“It was all adrenaline from there,” student Tayler Hubbs recalls. She and 19 of her classmates left their classrooms behind and headed out in a convoy of firetrucks, heading for Parkland County.

“I don't know what I was expecting,” Hubbs says. “It was a shock just rolling in there and seeing all the smoke. It was a little overwhelming. But we have such good instructors, they kept us cool, made sure we stayed on our toes and stayed safe the entire time. It felt like a big responsibility, but nothing we couldn't handle.”

They spent four days on location, helping with everything from checking for hot spots, dealing with open flames, riding in tanker trucks and with Incident Command.

“We were immediately set into action,” says Zachary Gould. “We were split into groups and had to look for hotspots, deliver water to squad trucks, provide support to the farms and houses. I felt great to be out there helping.”

This was the first time students at Lakeland's ETC were deployed to assist in an emergency situation, according to Shawn McKerry, dean of the ETC.

“I am extremely proud of the staff and students for their concerted effort to support the Parkland County wildfire,” he says. “This is one of most extreme spring wildfire seasons in history and I am thankful Lakeland College could join the provincial fight.

"Experiences like this is exactly what makes Lakeland College amazing and the best choice for first responder training in Canada. As ‘work integrated learning' is significant focus within our programs, there is no better way to accomplish this than responding to a real-world incident and working alongside first responder from across Alberta. “

It's an opportunity that both Gould and Hubbs feel privileged to have participated in.

“I feel lucky to have been in a class that got to go. It was a really good bonding experience with my classmates, as well as a very eye-opening experience to be able to see what fire can really do in an environment like that,” says Hubbs.

“It was surreal getting to work with all those other fire departments,” Gould explains. “We got to learn so much about wildland firefighting. There are a thousand different ways that you can do something right in the fire service. It was great to learn a whole bunch of new techniques in order to stay safe and do your best to keep the fire under control.”

He credits the support of faculty onsite, as well as the other fire departments who treated him and his fellow students as equals, with providing an amazing opportunity for hands-on learning.

“We were supported by the faculty,” he says. “They made sure everybody was doing okay, that we were sleeping, eating, and that we were accounted for at all times. It felt great to have them in our corner and supporting them the way that they did.”

Working hands-on in the field with other firefighting departments during a provincial emergency was certainly an eye-opening experience to work on new skills, to come together as a team, and to achieve the real-world experience a Lakeland education is known for. It was also, however, an important demonstration of how destructive wildfires can be and how critical the role of a firefighter is in protecting communities.

Gould explains, “It was such a horrible thing to see. It was tough to see how everyone was evacuated and had to leave their homes, pets and farms. It was really tough to see that.”

“It was heart-wrenching,” Hubbs agrees. “There were a couple of times where a few of us just teared up seeing the destruction it can cause. At times, you came across properties that were completely burned out with nothing left. Luckily, there were houses that were saved, but it was crazy to see how it could be so separated where one house was saved and another wasn't.”

It's an experience she won't soon forget.

“I'm very proud of my classmates and I for getting this opportunity,” she says. “We're privileged that they chose us. I want to thank Lakeland for this opportunity. It's something I could never have imagined while being here. I'd also like to thank Parkland County for inviting us.”

Photos: Top - A Lakeland College emergency services technology student operates a hose, exstinguishing hot spots. Middle - A Lakeland College emergency services technology student exstinguishes hot spots following a fire in Entwistle, Alta. Bottom- A group of Lakeland College emergency services technology students in Entwistle, Alta.

Photo Gallery: 2023-etc-entwistle will appear here on the public site.