The Manitoba government is investing in a new mobile training trailer to provide over 5,000 firefighters across the province with year-round fire rescue training.
As reported by the Manitoba government, this initiative aims to support municipalities and enhance local access to critical firefighter training.
Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard emphasized the importance of the project: “This is important new training infrastructure that will ensure Manitoba firefighters have greater access to the skills and resources they need to protect themselves, their fellow firefighters and the public.”
The trailer will address a longstanding gap, as Manitoba has relied on borrowing a training trailer from the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, limiting availability for local firefighters.
Kelvin Toews, president of the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs, welcomed the initiative, citing its role in improving firefighter readiness: “The investment in fire protection with this trailer and commitment to the safety of Manitoba firefighters goes a long way to ensure firefighters throughout the province are better equipped to handle dangerous situations they may encounter.”
The mobile trailer will facilitate training for various emergency scenarios, including disentanglement, low-profile operations, and upper-floor rescues.
Such scenarios are crucial for preparing firefighters for real-life emergencies while minimizing risks during training.
The mobile training unit will support the Fire Ground Survival program offered by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
This program equips firefighters to manage situations where they may become lost, disoriented, injured, or trapped during emergencies.
“This state-of-the-art training trailer ensures that firefighters all around Manitoba will now have the opportunity to safely and proficiently hone their skills at mayday, firefighter rescue and various other critical scenarios,” said Tom Bilous, president of United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg Local 867.
Partnerships with the Office of the Fire Commissioner will ensure training is accessible to all fire service members across Manitoba, according to Minister Simard.
Currently, only British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario have similar mobile training trailers.
Manitoba’s addition to this list ensures its firefighters no longer need to rely on limited access to Ontario’s resources.
The province’s mobile trailer will enable municipalities to deliver critical training locally, reducing travel costs and time for firefighters while improving overall training frequency.
The Manitoba government has announced an investment in a mobile fire rescue training trailer that will provide year-round training to more than 5,000 firefighters across the province.
Manitoba previously borrowed a similar trailer from Ontario, highlighting the need for locally available resources.
This new infrastructure will support advanced training, including scenarios such as disentanglement and upper-floor rescues, through the IAFF’s Fire Ground Survival program.
Firefighters across Manitoba will benefit from improved access to critical emergency training closer to home, with partnerships ensuring availability to all service members.
